NIA suspends Ghana Card date of birth updates pending review of guidelines

The National Identification Authority (NIA) has temporarily suspended all date of birth update requests on the Ghana Card across the country, effective Monday, November 9.

The suspension means that applicants will no longer be able to submit new requests for changes to their dates of birth at any NIA office nationwide.

It also affects requests already being processed, as the Authority says such applications will not be approved until further notice.

In a press release issued on Monday, November 9, the NIA explained that the decision followed a review of its date of birth update process, which revealed the need to strengthen safeguards against possible irregularities.

The Authority said it was engaging key institutions, including the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the Births and Deaths Registry (BDR), to review and improve the guidelines governing such requests.

“These engagements aim to ensure a transparent, credible, and standardised system for handling such requests,” the statement signed by Williams Ampomah Emmanuel Darlas, Head of the NIA's Corporate Affairs Directorate, said in part.

The NIA indicated that the suspension would remain in force until the consultations were completed and new guidelines approved.

It added that the public would be informed when the revised guidelines were ready for implementation.

“The Authority will inform the public once consultations are complete and the approved guidelines are ready,” the statement noted.