NIA Resumes Ghana Card Registration for Children in Volta and Oti Regions

The National Identification Authority (NIA), in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), has announced the resumption of the Ghana Card registration exercise for children aged 6 to 14 in the Volta and Oti Regions, effective Tuesday, May 5, 2026.

The exercise is part of a nationwide initiative aimed at registering approximately 3.1 million children, as government seeks to strengthen Ghana’s national identification system and promote inclusion from an early age. The Volta and Oti Regions will serve as the starting point for a phased national rollout, with each phase expected to last at least 21 days.

As part of the strategy to ensure broad coverage, registration teams will move from school to school, covering both public and private institutions. The exercise will run daily between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Children within the age bracket who are not enrolled in school can visit designated schools or registration centres within their communities to participate.

To register, a parent or guardian must present one of the following documents: the child’s original birth certificate, a valid Ghanaian passport, or a certificate of acquired citizenship. Where these documents are unavailable, a parent, relative, or legal guardian may complete an Oath of Identity form. In cases where a child has no known relatives, two Social Welfare Officers may vouch for the child under oath.

The NIA is also encouraging parents and guardians who have enrolled their children onto the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to provide the child’s NHIS card or number during registration.

Additionally, individuals presenting children for registration must be Ghanaian, at least 18 years old, of sound mind, and in possession of a valid Ghana Card.

Children who were registered during the 2024 pilot phase but are yet to receive their cards have been advised to visit the NIA District Office where they initially registered to collect them.

The Authority has urged parents, guardians, and Social Welfare Officers in the Volta and Oti Regions to take full advantage of the exercise. It further cautioned that providing false information or facilitating the registration of non-Ghanaians constitutes an offence punishable by law.

The NIA reaffirmed its commitment to delivering a secure, inclusive, and reliable national identity system for all Ghanaians.

Signed:

Williams Ampomah Emmanuel Darlas

Head, Corporate Affairs Directorate, NIA

Dated: May 4, 2026