ECOWAS identity card known by most Ghanaians as Ghana card is a national identity card that is by the Ghanaian authorities to Ghanaian citizens both resident and non-resident. The current version of the card which is issued by the National identification authority (NIA) is biometric and Prof of identity of citizenship and residence of the holder. The card which was acquired with your biometric birth certificate or vaild Ghanaian passport.
The card has a microchip inside the card which contains biometric data such as fingerprints of the holder, image, signature etc
Front view
Front view of sample card
The front view of the card house the surname, first name and middle name of the holder. It also shows the sex, date of birth, height and your personal identification number (PIN). It has the date of expiry which is usually 10 years from date of issue.
Back View
Back View of sample card
Things you can find at the back View of the card is the singnature of the holder, serial number, a flying eagle on the right and the holders biometric and personal data 2-D barcode system which a description THIS CARD IS THE PROPERTY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA. IF FOUND PLEASE CONTACT THE NEAREST NIA OFFICE OR POLICE STATION.
Benefits of the Card
1. Acquisation of driver’s license
Want to acquire a driver’s license in Ghana then you will need your Ghana card. The driver and vehicle licensing authority (DVLA) will demand your personal identification number before they issue a lisense to applicant.
The Pin will be captured in the Ghana card holder’s drivers license and vehicle registration documents. It will also help them to determine a person’s true identity for lisense as their information from National identification Authority (NIA)
2. Shipping and clearing of goods from the port.
If you are exporting out of Ghana or importing into Ghana your goods will be directly linked to your personal identification number to eliminate fraud and theft in shipping and clearing of goods at the ports and harbours.
3. Passport acquisation
When a person applies for passport, the personal identification number (PIN) is captured in the passport and the data is cross checked with the data from NIA. A person will not qualify to hold Ghanaian passport if he doesn’t have the Ghana card for your identity to be cross checked from NIA.
4. Registration of business.
Want to register your business then of course you will need your PIN on the carts to do that. The registrar general department makes it a requirement for all business owners to provide their pin on the card during business registration.
This will eliminate registration fraud and prevent multiple registration of business.
5. Access to social services.
The card will authenticate a person’s entitlement to government social services such as LEAP payment and National health insurance scheme.
6. Electorial registration
This no new as a person pin on the card is captured on the voters card for the verification of the person’s real name, age, residence or either the person qualifies to vote or not.
7. Receipt of banking service.
A Ghana card holder can use the card as an identity verification when opening a bank account, withdrawing money from the bank or receiving money to m transfer in Ghana. The Ghana card can be used to take loans from the bank as the bank can easily verified and are confident that they can be traced in the event of loan default.
8. Traveling.
The card can be used to identify a person at the airports, borders, police check posts and even booking tickets.
9. SIM card registration.
One of the key reason for the issuing of the card by the National communication authority for the registration of all SIM cards for getting a mobile communication. The Ghana card has become the acceptable verification documents for mobile connection will be the Ghana card.
10.Insurance claims
When a person needs to prove their identity in the event of a disaster, then the Ghana card comes in. The card provides them with the necessary information they need to establish their identity to make insurance claims.
11.Disaster management.
Identification of true victims at a disaster is often a problem as people but the data on a person’s card can be used to establish whether they live in an affected area or not
12.Health delivery
The personal identification number (PIN) holds all your personal information and can be used to cross checked with the existing data in the National identification during a national health insurance (NHIS).
What other benefits you know about the Ghana card let’s us know in comment box