Ghana’s National Identification Authority (NIA) has begun extending the Ghana Card registration exercise to include children, a move many citizens have described as timely and progressive. Speaking on The Teknokrat Show on Focus FM, some young Ghanaians welcomed the initiative, saying it would improve data management and national planning in areas such as healthcare, education, and population tracking.
One of the discussants, a Communication and Media student, Ezekiel Aniagyei, said the exercise would help the government plan better for the country’s future. “It’s a very progressive move.
It helps us keep track of the number of children we have and how best to prepare for their needs in areas like healthcare and education,” he stated. Another panelist, Philip Wiafe, added that identifying children as citizens from an early age is essential.
“It’s not only adults who are Ghanaians. The Ghana Card is proof of identity, and if children aged six to fourteen have one, it’s not a bad idea,” he noted.
However, some Ghanaians have expressed concerns about data privacy. Responding to this, Philip explained that the same information collected from adults is what will be taken from children.
“If a child can own a passport, then having a Ghana Card shouldn’t be an issue. The data collected is the same,” he said.
Panelist Emmanuella Figah, also emphasized the long-term benefits, urging parents not to delay participation. “It will get to a point where even schools will require the Ghana Card for admission.
Every child will need it at some stage,” she advised. The panel encouraged the NIA to make the registration process more accessible, especially for rural communities, through regular education on local radio stations and outreach programs.
They also proposed that more registration centers be opened to avoid long queues and make the process easier for parents. Concluding the discussion, the panel agreed that digitizing national identification, starting from childhood, is a step toward a more organized and technologically advanced Ghana.
“If we want to get to the level of the developed world, where data helps track issues like crime and fraud, then everyone must be in the system,” Emmanuella added.