The GhanaCard, will replace the sectoral identity cards in circulation and become the only card to be used in transactions where identification is required as provided by law.

Among other things, it will enable other stakeholders to run their applications on the national identity card.

Prof Attafuah explained that the registration is starting from the Greater Accra region on May 28 and that the NIA expects to register all Ghanaian citizens in Ghana within one year.

Diaspora registration

“Approximately six months after the commencement of the national exercise in Ghana, we will also commence the registration of Ghanaians in the diaspora," Prof Attafuah said in a radio interview with Accra based Citi FM Monday morning.

Prof Attafuah said in the Greater Accra region, “we will be here for approximately three months. A lot will depend on the speed with which the registration goes. It is estimated that when Bernard Avle gets to a registration centre, he will not spend more than 30 minutes and walk away with a card,” he said. 

He added: “there is a human factor there, the person operating the equipment and weather conditions and all of that, to the extent possible to use technology to address most of the problems that we had encountered some 10years ago, but there is still a human element.
Our expectation is that this job will be done very professionally and meticulously and we will in about three months , at most, we’d have registered every Ghanaian in Greater Accra.

From Greater Accra, the registration team move to Volta Region followed by Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Brong Ahafo, Western, Ashanti, Eastern and Central regions.

Prof Attafuah said apart from Greater Accra which the team will spend three months, they will spend two months in Ashanti and in all other regions spend one month each.

• Nationwide registration for 'Ghana card' to begin middle of 2018

Proof of citizenship

The National Identity Register (Amendment) Bill, 2017 has done away with the use of voter's identity cards (IDs), drivers' license and baptismal certificates as proof of citizenship.

It however maintains the use of birth certificates and passports.

The Act further introduces residence permits and other documents covering acquired citizenship.

This time around, ample arrangements have been made in the Act to enable those who do not have birth certificates or passports to register.

The identity of such applicants could be vouched by two relatives, or by two non-relatives to be determined by the NIA.

• Akufo-Addo receives new “Ghana Card”

Personal information

The applicants would be required to provide information, including the applicants' birth certificate numbers, street names, electronic mails, telephone numbers and the digital address codes.

Others would include their passport numbers and their dates of issue, social security numbers, tax identification numbers and drivers' licences numbers.

Registration of children

The NIA would register all children under six years of age and give them unique identification numbers.

The unique numbers would be tied to the particulars of their mothers or that of their fathers, in the absence of the mothers.

Challenge of eligibility

The Act extends the power to initiate challenge proceedings to members of the public.

Hitherto, the power to challenge eligibility of applicants was confined to only officers and persons authorised by the NIA at its registration centres.

Applicants who are dissatisfied with the outcome of the internal procedures, may bring an action at the High Court.