It has finally been approved by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that Ghana’s National Identity Card, famously referred to as the Ghana Card to be recognized globally as a valid e-passport
The International Civil Aviation Organization is a specialized and funding agency of the United Nations. It changes the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth.
The Ghana Card is a national identity card that is issued by the Ghanaian National Identification Authority (NIA) to Ghanaian citizens (both resident and non-resident, and legally and permanently resident foreign nationals). It is proof of identity, citizenship, and residence of the holder.
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This is good news, meaning that starting from Wednesday, February 9, 2022, Ghana’s National Identification Card known as “GHANA CARD” can now be used by its holders to travel across 97 borders and 44,000 airports in the world.
Ghanaians living abroad can who are holders of the Ghana card can now be allowed to board flights to Ghana without any visa requirements.
Ghana Card is now e-passport – ICAO
Confirmed: during a“Key Ceremony” meeting on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, at the headquarters of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal, Canada, where Ghana was represented by the High Commissioner to Canada, H.E Ransford Sowah, he was handed a “KEY” to confirm that Ghana’s entry into the ICAO family is now approved.
It would be recalled that back in November 2021, in a post we published, we made it known that the vice president of the Repulic Of Ghana, Mahamudu Bawumia has revealed that the Ghana Card (GhanaCard) will by the end of the first quarter of 2022, be recognized as one of the e-passports (electronic passports) Globally.
The Vice President made the announcement on Tuesday, November 2 while speaking at the Ashesi University Campus, in the Eastern Region, on the topic: “Transforming an economy through digitalization: The Ghana story.”
According to DR. Bawumia, while detailing the major role to be played by the GhanaCard said that the government has been working with the International Civil Aviation Organization to globally activate the e-passport function of the Ghana card.
“The good news for diasporan Ghanaians is that when the Ghana Immigration Service is linked to the NIA architecture, diasporan Ghanaians who hold the Ghanacard should not have to obtain visas to travel to Ghana” – Bawumia added.
Ransford Sowah, speaking at the explained that the Ghana Card contains has the biometric information of the card’s holder with a cryptographic digital signature which is however stored on a chip that will enable the card to be used to authenticate the identity of travelers.
“This makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card also has an e-passport capability.
“This means that with this Key Ceremony, all holders of the Ghana Card have an ICAO compliant e-passport that can be read and verified at all ICAO compliant airports/borderposts across the world. It can be used for international travel; subject of course to visa restrictions and bilateral agreements. Indeed, the Ghana Card is already valid for travel in all ECOWAS countries.
“For Ghanaians living or born in the diaspora, holders of the Ghana Card can be allowed to board any flight to Ghana without any visa requirement as we seek to give an inclusive Akwaaba experience to all children and descendants of our motherland.” H.E Ransford Sowah said.
Click Here: Things To Bring Along For Your Ghana Card Registration: See Requirements, and Processes
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