NIA to Mandate Biometric Verification for Public Services

The National Identification Authority (NIA) is set to introduce stricter measures to ensure biometric verification becomes a mandatory requirement for accessing public services in Ghana. This move is part of proposed amendments to the NIA’s governing laws, including Act 707 of 2006, Act 750 of 2008, and Legislative Instrument (LI) 211.

Key Highlights of the Proposed Amendments:

Biometric Verification Enforcement: The NIA will make biometric verification a requirement for accessing public services, eliminating reliance on manual or electronic ID verification methods.
Punitive Measures: Institutions that fail to comply with the law will face punitive measures, including potential legal sanctions.
Stakeholder Engagements: The NIA will begin stakeholder engagements on September 18 to secure broad consensus on the amendments before they are laid before Parliament.

Rationale Behind the Move

The NIA’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Wisdom Kwaku Deku, emphasized that the enforcement aims to strengthen the credibility of national identity systems and eliminate loopholes that enable impersonation or fraud. Biometric verification will prevent identity theft, ensure real-time authentication, and align with national and international security standards.

Progress in Registration and Service Delivery

The NIA has made significant progress in registering Ghanaians across various age groups, including children aged 0-5 and 6-14. Key statistics include:
18,955,360 Ghanaians registered
18,853,779 cards printed
17,855,708 cards issued
207,322 records updated
585,337 cards replaced

ISO Certification and Service Improvements

The NIA has initiated processes toward securing ISO certification, which will position the Authority among globally recognized institutions with guaranteed data security and service integrity. Additionally, the NIA has:
Cleared a backlog of 600,000 unprinted cards
Reactivated all district offices
Expanded premium service centers nationwide
Rolled out online registration services for first-time applicants