The National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced a major operational breakthrough, confirming that a two-year backlog of unissued Ghana Cards has been completely cleared.
The development, which ends years of public frustration over card shortages and delays, now paves the way for the instant issuance of Ghana Cards across the authority’s 292 registration centres nationwide.
Backlog Resolved After Supply Crisis
Speaking in an interview with the Daily Graphic on Thursday, September 11, 2025, the Head of Corporate Affairs at the NIA, Williams Ampomah E. Darlas, revealed that the authority had finally overcome the supply chain crisis that crippled its operations between March 2023 and January 2025.
“Between March 2023 and January 2025, yes, we had that issue because there was a shortage of blank cards in the system,” Mr. Darlas explained. “Now, under the new administration, all those backlogs have been cleared. If you registered and did not get your card, you can now go back to the centre where you registered and collect it.”
Same-Day Issuance Now Possible
With supply fully restored, the NIA says new applicants will no longer face prolonged waiting periods.
“If you register today, you should be able to get your card today,” Mr. Darlas assured, stressing that the authority’s operational capacity has been restored nationwide.
Ghana Card Statistics
Providing updated figures on the national identity system, Mr. Darlas disclosed that:
- 18,950,942 Ghanaians have so far been registered onto the database.
- 18,848,635 cards have been printed.
- 17,747,459 cards have been collected by applicants.
This leaves fewer than one million cards still awaiting distribution.
Central Role of the Ghana Card
The Ghana Card has now become the cornerstone of identity verification in the country, with about 95 institutions, including all major banks and several key government agencies, fully integrated with the NIA’s platform for real-time verification.
The authority is also developing a mobile application to extend access to smaller financial institutions such as microfinance companies, enabling them to authenticate identities securely.
Warning Against Photocopying of Cards
Mr. Darlas issued a stern warning to institutions and individuals against demanding photocopies of the Ghana Card for verification purposes.
“No, it’s not allowed,” he stressed. “Biometric verification through thumbprints and digital authentication is the only lawful means of validation.”
He cautioned that photocopying exposes citizens to identity theft and other crimes, adding that the NIA is working to amend its laws to penalize institutions that engage in the illegal practice.
Strengthening the Legal Framework
According to Mr. Darlas, legislative amendments aimed at bolstering the NIA’s mandate and safeguarding the national database will be presented before Parliament when it reconvenes.
This move, he said, demonstrates the government’s commitment to protecting the integrity of the Ghana Card system, which has now become the country’s primary national identification document.
Source – My News Ghana
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