NIA urges all foreigners to register for cards
The National Identification Authority (NIA) on Wednesday directed foreign nationals living in the country for more than 90 consecutive days and those who are permanently resident to register with the Authority for “Non-citizen Ghanacard”.
The registration, under the Foreigners Identification Management System (FIMS), is in pursuance of the Authorities mandate, under the NIA Act, 2006 (Act 707), the National Identity Register Act, 2008 (Act 750) and the National Identity Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2111).
Dr William Ahadzie, NIA Chief Executive Officer stated at a press interaction on the implementation and importance of the FIMS project in Accra.
The Non-citizen Ghanacard mandates foreign missions to provide the necessary services to its nationals and help in the establishment of identities of non-Ghanaians resident in the country in unforeseen situations.
Dr Ahadzie noted that the project will help in the prevention and detection of crimes such as financial fraud due to the existence of biometric database and create enabling environment for foreigners to undertake legitimate business.
“The exercise will produce credible electronic National Identity Register, containing personal information of foreigners resident in the country to enable government to plan for all persons living in the country” he added.
Dr Ahadzie, among other things, added that, the exercise will help government to protect the rights of foreigners as required by the international obligations and treaties to which Ghana is a signatory and help combat crimes such as money laundering, terrorism and proliferation of arms.
He said all foreign nationals who registered during the mass registration exercise for Ghanaian citizens are required to re-register to acquire the Non-Citizen Ghana card since it is illegal for foreign nationals to use the Ghana card.
Dr Ahadzie said foreigners are to visit the NIA Head Office in Accra near the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange and the CAL Bank Headquarters at Ridge for the registration at a cost of $120.00.
The NIA was set up in 2003 under the Office of the President with the mandate to issue national ID cards and manage the National Identification System with its mission of adopting a cutting-edge technology to provide client-based identification services for socio-economic development, good governance, safety and security for all citizens and legal residents.
Source: GNA
Ghana need to be very serious with these foreigners and immigration should depot anyone without proper documentation just as being done in Europe and elsewhere. There will be low crime rate, better economic activity with confidence. How these people enter into the country without better documents, Ghana immigration need to answer these questions. It a shame no country especially China will tolorate such illegal entry and illegal mining anywhere on their soil even in Tiebet
Does this issue apply to those foreigners who have acquired the resident permit from the Ghana Immigration Service?
Does this apply to descendants of chattel slaves “stolen away” from Africa–who are “repatriating”? –these are not foreigners.
The Africans that were stolen away were members of family, heirs or owners of land and businesses, now their descendants are returning–is this “non-citizen” card –such a status –applicable to them?