The National Identification Authority (NIA), in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), has extended the Ghana Card registration exercise for children aged between 6 and 14 years to the North East and Upper East Regions. The exercise begins on Monday, October 5, 2026, as part of the NIA’s phased rollout of Ghana Card registration for children within the age bracket.
Registration teams will visit public and private schools from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to register eligible children. Children who are not enrolled in school may register at designated schools or other approved registration centres within their communities. The nationwide exercise began in the Volta and Oti Regions in May 2026 before being extended to the Northern Region.
Parents or guardians presenting 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, a parent, relative or legal guardian may complete an Oath of Identity form.
For children without known relatives, two Social Welfare Officers may vouch for their identity. The NIA has also encouraged parents and guardians to provide the child’s NHIS card or NHIS number, where available. Anyone presenting a child for registration must be a Ghanaian aged 18 years or older, be of sound mind and possess a valid Ghana Card.
The NIA has cautioned children who took part in the 2024 pilot registration exercise but have not yet received their cards against registering again. Instead, they are required to visit the NIA District Office where they originally registered to complete the card issuance process.
The Authority has urged parents, guardians, schools and other stakeholders in the North East and Upper East Regions to support the exercise and ensure that all eligible children have the opportunity to register for the Ghana Card. The NIA also warned that providing false information or facilitating the registration of a non-Ghanaian is an offence punishable by law.
