The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has said media reports that the Ghana National ID Card (Ghana Card) can now be used as an e-passport in 44,000 airports globally are incorrect.
State-owned media – specifically the Daily Graphic – first carried that report about Ghana Card's acceptance as an e-Passport, explaining that It follows the recognition of the ID card as an electronic passport that can be read and verified in all ICAO-compliant borders.
However, in a series of Tweets, the ICAO – a UN civil aviation agency – stated that it does not have the authority to certify that a state’s ID card should replace a passport.
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
“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,” the Organisation tweeted on February, 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
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
It is the sovereign right of each individual State to decide upon its entry and exit requirements and the documents that need to be presented by those travelling to and/or from its territory.
— ICAO (@icao) February 11, 2022
The reports, which ICAO has described as incorrect, had stated that holders of the Ghana Card will be allowed to board any flight to Ghana by just showing the card.
Ghana was officially accepted on October 13, 2021, as the 79th member of the ICAO’s Public Key Directory (PKD) community.
The ICAO Public Key Directory (PKD) is a central repository for exchanging the information required to authenticate e-passports.