Ghana has introduced new rules requiring businesses and institutions to use a biometric verification system when checking national identity cards, in a move aimed at reducing identity fraud and strengthening security. The National Identification Authority (NIA) announced that organizations will no longer be allowed to rely on visual inspections or photocopies of the Ghana Card for official transactions. Instead, they must use a mobile biometric application to verify cardholders’ identities. The Ghana Card, officially known as the national biometric identity card, is mandatory for Ghanaian citizens and foreign residents and has become a key document for accessing essential services, including banking, SIM card registration, passport applications and driver’s licence processing.
The card contains biometric information collected by the NIA, including fingerprints, iris scans, photographs and signatures, allowing institutions to confirm an individual’s identity electronically. NIA Chief Executive Wisdom Yayra Koku Deku said photocopying or visually inspecting Ghana Cards for transactions is now an offence under the amended regulations. “Biometric verification is now mandatory,” Deku said, warning that organizations that fail to comply could face legal action.
Institutions that continue using outdated verification methods risk fines of up to 24,000 Ghanaian cedis (about $2,100), while individuals who violate the rules could face penalties of up to 6,000 cedis (about $525), according to the NIA. The authority has urged businesses and other organizations not yet connected to the digital identity verification platform to begin registration and integration immediately. The NIA said the government will provide further public education and implementation guidelines in the coming days as authorities begin enforcing the new requirements. The move forms part of Ghana’s broader digital identity program, which aims to improve access to services while reducing fraud, impersonation and misuse of official documents.
