Ghana is set to expand its national identification efforts beyond its borders, with the global rollout of the Ghana Card for citizens living abroad beginning in Copenhagen, Denmark, on October 22, 2024.
The National Identification Authority (NIA), following successful pilot projects in Canada and the United States, is now preparing to reach Ghanaians across Europe and beyond.
The global expansion comes after the pilot registration was conducted in cities such as Ottawa, Toronto, Washington, D.C., and New York.
The pilot has been deemed a success, and attention has shifted to the upcoming launch in Europe.
The first Ghanaian to be issued a Ghana Card in Europe is Mr. John Djomaakwei Quaye, a staff member at the Ghana Embassy in Denmark, marking a symbolic start to this broader initiative.
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Ahead of the official launch, embassy staff in Copenhagen have been undergoing training facilitated by NIA and its technical partner, Identity Management Systems II Limited (IMS).
These trained staff will serve as registration officers during the rollout, ensuring a smooth and efficient process for Ghanaians in Denmark.
A significant part of this initiative includes an engagement session with Ghanaians living in Denmark and Sweden, scheduled for October 20, 2024, where the NIA will provide essential information about the registration process and requirements.
The official launch event on October 22 will be chaired by Ghana’s Ambassador to Denmark, Mrs. Sylvia Naa Adaawa Annoh, with Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, expected to participate virtually.
In the first phase of this global rollout, the registration effort will expand to several European cities, including Berlin, Amsterdam, Rome, Brussels, and Paris.
The NIA has simplified the registration process, allowing Ghanaians abroad to start their applications online, pay fees, and book enrollment appointments before visiting their local Ghanaian missions for biometric capture.
Ghanaians aged six and above with valid passports or birth certificates are eligible to apply for the Ghana Card, and dual citizens can also register. Those without the necessary documents can use a vouching system, where two non-relatives or a relative with a Ghana Card can vouch for them.
This global effort is part of the NIA’s mandate to register all Ghanaians, both at home and abroad, as the Ghana Card becomes increasingly essential for accessing key services and engaging with national institutions.
