We haven’t certified Ghana Card for International travels – ICAO clears the air

We haven’t certified Ghana Card for International travels – ICAO clears the air

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has debunked claims that it has certified the use of Ghana’s National Identity Card (Ghana Card) for international travel.

According to the Organization, it only likened the Ghana Card to an e-passport at an event it recently held in Montreal, Canada.

Ghana at ICAO Summit in Montreal, Canada

In a Twitter thread post, ICAO tweeted that reports that Ghanaians can now travel with the Ghana Card as an e-Passport are incorrect.

“ICAO is aware of recent and incorrect media reports claiming that ICAO has agreed that the Ghanaian ID card is equivalent to an ePassport. However, it is not ICAO’s role to certify the use of a State’s Identity Card for international travel in place of a passport. A number of States worldwide accept specified national ID cards as identity documents during air travel based on bilateral agreement between issuing and receiving states. *Any* decision to accept such alternative travel identity documents is made by the receiving state itself. Ghana’s successful conclusion of its key ceremony on 9 February is a major milestone in its efforts to provide for more international acceptance of its electronic travel documents.”..the tweet read.

ICAO is aware of recent and incorrect media reports claiming that ICAO has agreed that the Ghanaian ID card is equivalent to an ePassport. However, it is not ICAO’s role to certify the use of a State’s Identity Card for international travel in place of a passport.

— ICAO (@icao) February 11, 2022

A number of States worldwide accept specified national ID cards as identity documents during air travel based on bilateral agreement between issuing and receiving states. *Any* decision to accept such alternative travel identity documents is made by the receiving state itself.

— ICAO (@icao) February 11, 2022

Ghana’s successful conclusion of its key ceremony on 9 February is a major milestone in its efforts to provide for more international acceptance of its electronic travel documents.

— ICAO (@icao) February 11, 2022

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This clarification from ICAO is in sharp contradiction to the earlier local media reports that suggested that the Ghana Card can now be used for all international travels and it comes after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also denied any knowledge of the Ghana Card being used for international travels.

But Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kwaku Ampratwum Sarpong told Akoma FM on Thursday, February 10 that neither the minister herself nor her two deputies knew anything about the reports.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) on Wednesday, February 9 reported that 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.