6.2 Million children to be issued instant Ghana Cards
The National Identification Authority (NIA) is to register and issue instant Ghana Cards to 6.2 million children between the ages of six and 16 years, from October this year to March 2025.
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The exercise, which will begin on October 7, will see to the registration of 2.85 million children within five months in the first phase at 170 operational districts.
Being part of the final phase of the Ghana Card registration exercise, it is expected to capture the biometric data of at least two-thirds of children who will instantly be issued with dual interface smart biometric cards. The cards will be valid for 10 years.
Collaboration
Presenting the concept and operational plan in Accra yesterday, the Deputy Director in charge of Operations of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Alfred Gazari, said the exercise would be done in collaboration with the authority.
He said the NHIA was mandated to issue all citizens with the Ghana Card for identification purposes, and to also establish an identity register in line with the National Identity Register Act, 2008 (ACT 750).
Mr Gazari said the exercise was being done in stages, with the first stage being mass registration which was carried out from 2019 to 2021 for people aged 15 and above.
From November 2021, he said, the authority had carried out the continuous registration exercise in phases.
Mr Gazari said that per the 2010 Population Census, there were 21.5 million citizens who were above 15 years.
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And as of yesterday, the authority had registered some 18,840,625 citizens qualified to have the Ghana Card.
Pilot exercise
On the registration of six to 14-year-old children, the deputy director said the authority had undertaken a pilot registration exercise that covered seven districts in three regions.
They are Ashiedu Keteke, Ayawaso East and Ada East districts both in the Greater Accra Region; Nsawam-Adoagyiri and Yilo Krobo districts in the Eastern Region, and Effutu and Awutu Senya districts in the Central Region.
A similar pilot registration was also undertaken at the NHIA head office in Accra. “The exercise is ongoing; up till today, we have registered 3,302 children,”Mr Gazari added.
He said the authority also commenced the registration of zero to five-year children on March 14, 2024, after the Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, launched the second phase of the Ghana Card registration.
Mr Gazari added that all stakeholders that mattered, including the Ghana Education Service, had been consulted ahead of time, while equipment needed for the exercise had been deployed.
Requirements
The Corporate Affairs Director of NIA, Theodie Addo-Dankwa, said it was only parents and guardians above 18 years and of sound mind who could register children, using their original birth certificates or valid Ghanaian passports.
Besides, he said a legal guardian could also vouch for the registration of children under oath.
“In cases where the child has no known relatives, two social welfare officers responsible for the child shall vouch for them,” Mr Addo-Dankwa, added.
For his part, the Deputy Director, Business Systems, IT Project and MIS of the NHIA, Joe Annor-Darkwah, described the registration of children as a bold move to secure easy access to health care for children.
“By extending this initiative to 6.2 million children, we are laying the foundation for a healthier, more secure future for our young ones,” he said.
He, therefore, urged parents, community leaders, educators and health professionals to become advocates for the initiative.
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