The National Identification Authority (NIA), in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), will from Tuesday, May 5, 2026, resume the Ghana Card registration exercise for children aged between 6 and 14 years.
The exercise, which begins in the Volta and Oti Regions, forms part of a nationwide initiative targeting the registration of approximately 3.1 million children.
Executive Secretary of the NIA, Wisdom Kwaku Deku, said the move is aimed at strengthening Ghana’s national identity system and promoting early inclusion of children in the database.
According to him, the registration will be carried out in phases across the country, with each phase expected to last at least 21 days to ensure comprehensive coverage.
Registration Requirements
Parents or guardians are required to present any of the following documents for registration:
* Original Birth Certificate
* Valid Ghanaian Passport
* Certificate of Acquired Citizenship
Where these documents are not available, a parent, relative, or legal guardian may complete an Oath of Identity form.
For children without known relatives, two Social Welfare Officers may vouch for the child under oath.
Additionally, parents or guardians are encouraged to present the child’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) card or number if available.
Individuals presenting children for registration must:
* Be Ghanaian
* Be at least 18 years old
* Be of sound mind
* Possess a valid Ghana Card
The NIA has advised that children who were registered during the 2024 pilot phase but are yet to receive their cards should visit the district office where they registered to collect them. Attempts to re-register such children will be blocked by the system.
The Authority also warned that providing false information or registering a non-Ghanaian child is an offence punishable by law, including fines or imprisonment.
Parents, guardians, and Social Welfare Officers in the Volta and Oti Regions are encouraged to take advantage of the exercise by visiting designated registration centres.
The NIA says it remains committed to building a secure, inclusive, and reliable national identification system for all Ghanaians.
