According to Professor Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah, Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA), a total of 17,918,135 Ghanaians have registered for their National Identification Card (Ghana Card) since the mass registration commenced in April 2019 until March 15, 2024. Out of this number, 3,330,767 were students, 1,058,393 were unemployed citizens, and 13,522,591 were employed citizens. Additionally, the Authority has issued 17,133,993 cards during this period.

Professor Attafuah shared these statistics during a public lecture organized by the School of Technology and Social Sciences of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. The lecture, themed “Empowering Citizens: Exploring the Role of Digital Identity in Socio-Economic Development,” aimed to highlight the significance of digital identity in driving socio-economic development.

During his presentation, Prof. Attafuah highlighted that 15.7 million citizens registered during the first year of mass registration, with the Authority recording an impressive 250,000 registrations in a single day. He also announced plans to commence the registration of students in basic schools and Ghanaians living abroad within the next three months. The registration process in schools will be conducted systematically, ensuring minimal disruption to the academic calendar, while collaboration with Ghana's missions abroad will facilitate registration for citizens living outside the country.

Prof. Attafuah emphasized that the registration process had been smooth, resulting in accurate and up-to-date data. He expressed the Authority's readiness to collaborate with other state institutions, such as the Ghana Statistical Service and the National Service Scheme, to enhance their services using the data collected. He highlighted the potential for streamlined data access, stating that institutions like the Ghana Statistical Service could obtain data with a simple click, eliminating the need for manual data collection processes.

Overall, the National Identification Authority continues to play a vital role in facilitating the issuance of national identification cards to citizens, contributing to improved service delivery and socio-economic development in Ghana.