General News
NIA Resumes Ghana Card Registration for Children in North East and Upper East Regions
The National Identification Authority (NIA), in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), has resumed the Ghana Card registration exercise for children aged between 6 and 14 years in the North East and Upper East Regions.
The exercise officially began on Monday, October 5, 2026, as part of the NIA’s phased rollout of Ghana Card registration for children within the specified age group.
In a statement dated September 28, 2026, the NIA announced that the exercise would continue in the two regions following earlier registration activities conducted in other parts of the country.
“The National Identification Authority (NIA), in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), will continue the Ghana Card registration exercise for children aged 6 to 14 years in the North East and Upper East Regions, effective Monday, 5th October 2026,” the statement said.
The child registration exercise first began in the Volta and Oti Regions in May 2026 before being extended to the Northern Region.
Under the latest phase, registration teams will visit public and private schools to register eligible children. The exercise will be conducted between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Children who are not enrolled in school will also be eligible to register. Such children may complete the process at designated schools or other approved registration points within their communities.
Parents or guardians who present children for registration are required to provide an original birth certificate, a valid Ghanaian passport, or a Certificate of Acquired Citizenship.
Where none of these documents is available, the NIA says a parent, relative or legal guardian may complete an Oath of Identity form on behalf of the child.
For children who have no known relatives, two Social Welfare Officers may serve as witnesses or vouch for the child to facilitate the registration process.
The NIA is also encouraging parents and guardians to provide the child’s NHIS card or NHIS number, where available
According to the NIA, the person presenting a child must be a Ghanaian citizen, be 18 years or older, be of sound mind, and possess a valid Ghana Card.
The NIA has also cautioned children who participated in the 2024 pilot registration exercise but have not yet received their Ghana Cards not to register again.
Instead, the Authority has directed such persons to visit the NIA District Office where the child was originally registered to facilitate the issuance of the outstanding card.
The NIA is urging parents, guardians, schools and other stakeholders in the North East and Upper East Regions to support the exercise and help ensure that all eligible children are registered.
The Authority has further warned that providing false information or deliberately facilitating the registration of a non-Ghanaian constitutes an offence punishable under the law.
The statement was signed by Williams Ampomah Emmanuel Darlas, Head of the Corporate Affairs Directorate of the NIA.