Ghanaians in UK to be the first to be registered for Ghana card

The Ghana National Identification Authority has assured the Ghana High Commission in UK that Ghanaians living in the United Kingdom will be the first to be registered for the issuance of Ghana Card. This was disclosed by the Ghana High Commissioner to the UK , Papa Owusu-Ankomah during a meet the press series held at the Ghana High Commission in London ,yesterday.

As part of its preparation towards the registration exercise ,the NIA has formed a joint committee with members from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration(MoFARI) and the NIA to ensure the exercise is well executed.

According to the Executive Director of NIA , Professor Kenneth Attafuah, sections 15 and 21 of the NIA Act 2008(Act 750) mandates the Authority to commence the registration of Ghanaians living in the diaspora.

Sections 4(1)(a) and 7(1)(a) of the Act mandate the NIA to register Ghanaian citizens resident in or outside this Ghana onto the NIR.

Dodzie Numekevor, Head – Information and Public Affairs

On visa application, Papa Owusu-Ankomah opined that even though they have introduced a Premium Application Center, there are challenges clients face in filling forms for Visa and Passport acquisition. The Commissioner therefore urged clients to subscribe to the Live Chat on the portal to ease the said challenges.

Papa Owusu-Ankomah added that, a standard operating system has been rolled out to evaluate the performance and it’s effectiveness by the Commission.

In furtherance, He also emphasized on the availability of an attestation of documents service which is 30 pounds to help travellers.

He also touched on the existence of Emergency Travel Certificate at 65pounds on a one-way ticket for travellers.

Gladys Mensah of sirrichie.com and Hot Digital radio

The High Commissioner stressed on a legalization of documents services which is also available to be accessed when the need arises.

The Commissioner noted and urged the press to freely contact the Commission on matters of mutual interest.

The Commissioner again stressed on a collaboration with Ghanaian UK based lawyers and social workers to get data base to refer Ghanaian Nationals as and when necessary.

Mansa Musah
He later emphasized that the Commission is always accessible to Ghanaians in the UK to register with the commission which can be done at their website.

Samuel from Rainbow Radio
Gladys Breman-Baah Mensah who was at the press conference on behalf of Sirrichie.com and Hot FM – UK, asked if the Ghana High Commission can have an agency or organisation to cater for the demise of Ghanaian Nationals in the UK who do not have family’s. Papa Owusu-Ankomah the Commissioner replied indicating the need of an Association to take care of that.