The National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced that it will continue the Ghana Card registration exercise for children aged 6 to 14 years in the North East and Upper East Regions. This exercise, undertaken in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), began on Monday, October 5, 2026, as part of the NIA's phased rollout of registration for children in this age group.
According to the NIA, registration teams will operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and move from school to school to register eligible children. The teams will visit both public and private schools across the two regions. Children who do not attend school may register at designated schools or other approved registration points within their communities.
To register, parents or guardians must present the child's original birth certificate, valid Ghanaian passport, or Certificate of Acquired Citizenship. Where none of these documents is available, a parent, relative, or legal guardian may complete an Oath of Identity form. Additionally, two Social Welfare Officers can vouch for children without known relatives.
The NIA also encouraged parents and guardians to present the child's NHIS card or NHIS number, where available, to support the registration process. Persons presenting children for registration must be Ghanaian citizens aged at least 18 years, be of sound mind, and possess a valid Ghana Card.
The NIA further clarified that children who were registered during the 2024 pilot exercise but have not yet received their Ghana Cards should not register again. Instead, they should visit the NIA District Office where they originally registered for the issuance of their cards.
The Authority 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 are given the opportunity to register. The NIA also cautioned the public against providing false information or facilitating the registration of non-Ghanaians, stressing that such conduct is an offense punishable by law.
The latest exercise follows the commencement of the children's registration programme in the Volta and Oti Regions in May 2026, after which it was extended to the Northern Region. The NIA's effort aims to ensure that all eligible children in Ghana have the opportunity to register and receive the Ghana Card.
Key points
- The NIA will continue the Ghana Card registration exercise for children aged 6 to 14 years in the North East and Upper East Regions, effective October 5, 2026.
- Registration teams will visit both public and private schools across the two regions, and children who do not attend school may register at designated schools or other approved registration points within their communities.
- The NIA urges parents, guardians, schools, and other stakeholders to support the exercise and ensure that all eligible children are given the opportunity to register.
