NIA to register foreign residents

The meeting was to brief the representatives of the various embassies in the country on the project, dubbed the Foreigners Identification Management Systems (FIMS). The registration will be done in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ghana Immigration Service.

A pilot of the registration, which would start on Friday, January 25, 2013, would be for foreigners who stay in the country beyond three months.

Beneficiaries are expected to pay $120 and would be issued with a card for stay which would be renewable yearly.

The cards, when issued, would deal with issues such as access to social services by foreign residents.

It is also expected to eliminate the possession of multiple passports; fake land certificates, business registration certificates, driving licences, among others.

In registering the foreign nationals, Dr Ahadzie said the NIA would take caution to prevent an infringement on the rights, immunities, and privileges of all protected persons to ensure their security, freedom of movement and safety especially members of the West African sub-region.

The NIA began their mandate in 2008 with the registration of some 16 million Ghanaians.

The NIA is currently in the process of issuing out cards to Ghanaians who registered.

Dr Ahadzie, however, said the process had delayed due to lack of funds.

He said the NIA was exploring various avenues to facilitate its work including charging an amount for the cards to be issued.

He said the authority was looking forward to the government to release funds to complete registration of Ghanaians in the three northern regions.

Dr Ahadzie intimated that the printing of cards would continue this year.

Representatives of the various embassies and high commissions present made inputs into the mode of implementation for the project which the NIA promised to take on board.

The National Identification Authority (NIA) was set up in 2003 under the Office of the President with the mandate to issue national ID cards and manage the National Identification System (NIS).

This resulted in the passing of the NIA Act, 2006 (Act 707) to give it the necessary legal premise on which to operate.

Story by Justice Baidoo & Ruby Efe Ani-Adjei