The National Identification Authority (NIA), in conjunction with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), has launched a statewide Ghana Card registration drive for Ghanaian children aged six to 14 in the Northern Region.
The program, which started on Thursday, June 11, is a part of a national initiative to guarantee that, after the Volta and Oti Regions successfully complete the exercise, every eligible Ghanaian kid is enrolled on the national identity system.
A mop-up activity is being carried out by officials to register children who were not present during the first round.
The Authority declared in a statement that in order to maximise participation, registration teams would visit schools around the area.
To guarantee wide coverage, registration teams will travel from school to school, both public and private, just like in the previous phase, according to the statement.
Every day from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., children who are not enrolled in school will have the chance to register at specific registration centers or local schools.
When taking children for registration, the NIA advised parents and guardians to bring the necessary paperwork.
As stated by the Authority, “Parents and guardians are required to present the child’s original Birth Certificate, valid Ghanaian Passport, or Certificate of Acquired Citizenship.”
It further said that a parent, family member, or legal guardian may fill out an Oath of Identity form to speed up the registration process in the event that these documents are not accessible.
“For children without known relatives, two Social Welfare Officers may vouch for the child under oath,” the statement clarified.
In order to facilitate the activity, parents and guardians are also urged to show the child’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) card or, if available, NHIS number.
According to the Authority, anyone bringing children for registration must be a citizen of Ghana, be at least eighteen years old, be of sound mind, and have a current Ghana Card.
In order to guarantee that every eligible child is apprehended, it urged parents, guardians, school administrators, traditional leaders, and community stakeholders throughout the Northern Region to actively support the exercise.
Additionally, the NIA warned the public not to try to register non-Ghanaian children or to give fraudulent information.
The Authority reiterated its dedication to building a thorough and safe national identity database that include all eligible Ghanaians.
“The Authority further reminds the public that providing false information or facilitating the registration of a non-Ghanaian constitutes an offence and is punishable under the law,” the statement warned.
“The NIA remains committed to building a secure, inclusive, and reliable national identity system that ensures every eligible Ghanaian is recognised, protected, and counted,” the statement said.
NIA Statement Below:
Source: newsthemegh.com