Ghana Card becomes e-passport accepted in 44,000 airports globally

Technocrat Media, Africa

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) says Ghana National Identity Card (Ghana Card) is now recognised as a valid e-passport to travel across the world.

ICAO gave its seal of approval for the Ghana Card in a statement published on Wednesday in Canada by Ghana’s National Identification Authority (NIA).

The statement said: “Holders of the Ghana Card, as well as its future biometric equivalents, can present it as official documentation at all 197 (ICAO) compliant countries and 44,000 airports worldwide and board flights to Ghana.

“Ghana Card is now e-passport – ICAO declares. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has given its seal of approval for Ghana’s National Identity Card, the Ghana Card to be recognized globally as a valid e-passport now, holders of the Ghana Card, as well as its future biometric equivalents, can present it as official documentation at all 197 (ICAO) compliant countries and 44,000 airports worldwide and board flights to Ghana.”, NIA said.

At a ceremony, held on Wednesday at the headquarters of the International Civil Aviation Organization in Montreal in Canada, the country was officially presented with the certificate to make the Ghana Card an e-passport to be accepted at 44,000 airports across the globe.

Ransford Sowah, Ghana’s High Commissioner to Canada, received the token, which denoted Ghana’s recognition by the International Civil Aviation Organization while speaking at the occasion.

The High Commissioner explained that to provide an inclusive Akwaaba experience to all children and descendants of our country, Ghana Card holders can board any flight to Ghana without having to fulfill visa requirements.

He said: “This makes Ghana one of the few countries in the world where the national ID card also has an e-passport capability.”