The National Identification Authority (NIA) has commenced 24-hour Ghana Card registration services at Labone in Accra as part of efforts to support the government’s flagship 24-hour economy programme.
The initiative allows Ghanaians to access registration services beyond conventional working hours, including weekends, through a three-shift operational system.
Mr Wisdom Kwaku Deku, Executive Secretary of the NIA, said the extended service hours were aimed at making Ghana Card registration more accessible and convenient to the public.
He said the initiative would particularly benefit workers and other persons who might be unable to visit registration centres during regular working hours.
Mr Deku disclosed this after touring the 24-hour registration facility at Labone, where he assessed the operations and interacted with staff and members of the public accessing the service.
He said the introduction of the three-shift system demonstrated the NIA’s commitment to adapting its services to the changing needs of the population.
The extended hours would also provide greater flexibility for people who needed to complete their registration or obtain Ghana Card-related services without having to take time off work during the day.
The NIA’s move forms part of broader efforts by government to operationalise the 24-hour economy, which seeks to promote extended business and service hours, increase productivity and create additional employment opportunities.
The programme is also expected to encourage public and private institutions to reorganise their operations to provide services beyond the traditional eight-hour working day.
The Ghana Card, issued by the NIA, serves as the country’s national identification card and is increasingly used to access public and private services.
The identification system has also become an important component of efforts to strengthen identity verification and improve access to government services.
The NIA said the 24-hour registration service would help remove time-related barriers that could prevent eligible persons from completing the registration process.
The Authority is expected to use lessons from the Labone facility to assess the effectiveness of extended operating hours and inform possible expansion of the initiative to other registration centres.
Mr Deku urged eligible Ghanaians to take advantage of the extended service hours to register and obtain their Ghana Cards, particularly those whose work schedules made daytime visits difficult.
He said the initiative reflected the Authority’s commitment to providing responsive and citizen-centred identification services in support of national development.
