GHANA’S National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced that it is now ready to clear a backlog of unissued Ghana Cards dating back to 2023. The breakthrough comes after the agency received a consignment of 700,000 blank cards, allowing it to resume mass personalisation and distribution.
The NIA confirmed that the blank cards arrived on Monday, February 17, following negotiations with key partners. The agency assured citizens that these cards would be used to process outstanding applications, including first-time issuances, replacements, and updates of personal information.
Plan for nationwide card distribution
To expedite the process, the acting Executive Secretary of the NIA has set up a technical team to oversee the printing and distribution of the backlog. Cards will be dispatched to district offices across the country, and citizens will be informed when collection begins.
Despite this progress, the NIA revealed that over 600,000 already-printed Ghana Cards have remained uncollected since 2018. To address this, the agency is developing a new system to enhance distribution efficiency and ensure that citizens can easily access their IDs.
The Ghana Card is a key pillar of the country’s digital transformation strategy, helping citizens verify their identities for essential services such as banking, government programs, and SIM card registration.
National Service personnel must complete biometric validation
In a related development, Ghana’s National Service Scheme (NSS) has directed all 6,635 personnel in the 2024-2025 cohort to complete their biometric validation by March 15 or risk being removed from the program.
NSS Director General Felix Gyamfi emphasised that biometric verification is a critical part of the government’s digital transformation agenda, aimed at increasing transparency and efficiency in public service deployment.
‘Deployed personnel will not be placed on payroll until they complete biometric validation and report for monthly evaluation at their assigned districts,’ the NSS stated.
As Ghana continues its push towards a more digitized and transparent governance system, initiatives like the Ghana Card and biometric validation are playing a vital role in streamlining public services and enhancing national identity verification.
