NIA launches Ghana Card issuance in Washington DC

The National Identification Authority (NIA) in collaboration with Identity Management Systems (IMS), a subsidiary of the Margins Group has successfully launched the Ghana card registration in Washington DC.

This is the third phase of piloting its Ghana Card issuance program for Ghanaians living abroad. The pilot began in Canada, specifically in Ottawa and Toronto, and has now been extended to the United States of America.

The process which involved the training of Embassy Staff, the hosting of a stakeholders meeting and after that issuing Ghana Cards to applicants was completed at the Chancery of the Ghana Embassy in Washington DC on Thursday, September 19, 2024.

Professor Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah, the Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA), and his team rounded up the project’s final phase in New York before the end of September 2024.

The NIA aims to facilitate a seamless registration process for Ghanaians abroad, allowing them to apply, pay fees, and schedule online appointments before providing their biometric data in-person at Ghana’s Missions abroad.

The Ghana Card is a significant step for the NIA in ensuring that Ghanaians, regardless of location, are properly documented, and in line with global standards. The fee for the card varies depending on the region.

The fee for Ghanaians living outside Africa is $115.

This initiative will eventually roll out globally to ensure that Ghanaians everywhere can access their national identification cards, an important document that consolidates multiple identification functions, including Social Security, Tax Identification, and National Health Insurance.

The National Identification Authority (NIA) is a statutory body established by the National Identification Authority Act, 2006 (Act 707), to create, maintain, provide, and promote the use of national identity cards commonly known as Ghana Cards for the advancement of economic, political and social activities in Ghana.