The 1st Phase of the revamped National Identification System (NIS) Project Roll-Out took place on 15th September 2017 when the National Identification Authority (NIA) conducted a liveness test of the National Identity Card (“Ghana Card”) issuance process and the registration and instant issuance of the first Ghana Card to His Excellency the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The 2nd Phase of the Roll-Out of the NIS Project, which entailed registration of, and card issuance to, Ghanaians, commenced on Monday 4th June 2018. The exercise initially covered the registration and instant issuance of the Ghana Card to citizens at Jubilee House, Parliament House, the Judicial Service, the security sector and several key influencers in society, before being extended to some public and private institutions.
The NIA piloted the registration exercise via institutional and community (Adentan, La Nkwantanang and Ga East municipalities) registration from 4th June 2018 to 28th April 2019, resulting in significant improvements to the technical system. It is worth noting that the Mass Registration Exercise started on the 29th April 2019 with Greater Accra being the first region. The registration exercise since then has taken place in the following regions: Volta, Oti, Northern, Savannah, North East, Upper West, Upper East, Bono, Ahafo and Bono East. By the first week of December 2019, residents in the Ashanti region will have their turn.
The revamped NIS Project constitutes a major developmental impetus, particularly in transforming and formalizing the Ghanaian economy, and in enhancing e-governance in the country. It offers tremendous opportunities for all Ghanaians to harness their responsibilities and obligations, and to improve the manner and quality of providing and accessing various Government services through the use of the Ghana Card.
Ghanaians will, for the first time, be able to access e-government and e-commerce services by using the Ghana Card, assured of the security, reliability and traceability of the identities of the bearers of the Ghana Card. The NIS is designed to deliver a trust platform that will enhance our governance and accountability systems and stimulate the economy towards higher productivity, while affording citizens better opportunities to perform their duties and obligations, to exercise their rights, and to enjoy their privileges in a secure environment. It will also contribute to revenue mobilization, digital address tracing, crime control and effective policing in the country. The Ghana Card is to be produced in all transactions where identification is required. The re-invigoration of the NIS Project highlights the seriousness of Ghana’s commitment to ensuring social and economic inclusion through the construction and use of an effective, modern and secure national database of all citizens that is accessed only by persons or institutions authorised by law to do so.
Key Card Features
*Unique Number. *Biometric Data. *Embedded 148k Chip. *Secure *Electronic Identity.
Prof. Ken A. Attafuah
