Ghana Card: national identity card overview

The Ghana Card is the national biometric identity card issued by the National Identification Authority (NIA) under the National Identification Authority Act, 2006 (Act 707) and the National Identity Register Act, 2008 (Act 750). It serves as the primary government-issued identity document for Ghanaian citizens and qualifying foreign nationals. The card uses a 15-character personal identification number prefixed 'GHA-' (e.g., GHA-XXXXXXXXX-X). It is recognised by ICAO as a travel document for Ghanaians travelling to selected destinations, and serves as a TIN (Tax Identification Number), SSNIT number and voter ID linkage. Banks, telcos and NHIS use it for KYC verification. Registration is performed at NIA premium centres or through scheduled mass registrations. Required documents include a birth certificate or passport, and biometric capture (fingerprints, iris, photograph) is performed on site.