NIA Moves to Make Biometric Verification Mandatory, Warns Against Photocopies of Ghana Card
The National Identification Authority is set to make it an offence for institutions and individuals to rely on photocopies or visual inspection of the Ghana Card for transactions, as part of a push to curb identity fraud and strengthen national security.
Executive Secretary of the NIA, Wisdom Kwaku Deku, announced the plan during the Authority’s 20th anniversary celebration in Accra. He said proposed amendments to the National Identity Register Regulations, currently before Parliament, will make biometric verification mandatory for all transactions.
“It will now be an offence to make photocopies or merely rely on visual inspections of the card. All transactions must go through biometric verification,” Mr. Deku stated.
The move signals a significant shift in how the Ghana Card is used across both public and private sectors. For years, many institutions have accepted photocopies or physical inspection of the card as proof of identity. Under the new regulations, such practices will be outlawed, and only biometric verification will be recognized as valid.
Push for universal legal identity
Mr. Deku also announced that the NIA has resumed nationwide registration of children between the ages of 6 and 14, as part of efforts to achieve universal legal identity coverage in Ghana.
Since the exercise resumed on May 5, 2026, over 90,000 children in the Volta and Oti Regions have already been registered. The Authority has also resolved technical challenges that previously affected registration for children aged 0 to 5.
“This means that a child born in Ghana can now begin life with a legal identity,” Mr. Deku said.
The expansion of child registration is a key step toward ensuring that every Ghanaian, regardless of age, is captured on the National Identity Register. Officials say this will improve access to education, healthcare, and social services, while also strengthening planning and service delivery at the national level.
Ghana Card gains international recognition
Addressing guests at the anniversary event, Mr. Deku highlighted the growing international standing of the Ghana Card. He revealed that the card is now accepted at more than 44,000 airports worldwide and can be used for travel within the ECOWAS sub-region.
“This recognition reflects the confidence that the international community has placed in our identity system,” he noted.
The NIA has so far registered over 19.4 million Ghanaians and processed more than 200 million biometric verification requests without interruption, according to the Executive Secretary. He described the achievement as evidence of the system’s reliability and scalability.
“We are not merely issuing identity cards; we are building the digital foundation of a modern Ghana,” Mr. Deku said.
Strengthening the digital ecosystem
The proposed mandatory biometric verification is expected to tighten security across banking, telecommunications, public services, and other sectors that rely on identity checks. Authorities say it will reduce the risk of fraud, impersonation, and the use of fake identities.
The NIA’s 20th anniversary comes at a time when digital identity is increasingly seen as central to Ghana’s digital transformation agenda. By linking services to a verified biometric database, the government aims to improve efficiency, reduce duplication, and enhance accountability in public administration.
Mr. Deku reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to expanding coverage and ensuring that no Ghanaian is left behind in the national identity system. He called on institutions to prepare for the transition to full biometric verification once the amended regulations are passed.
The NIA’s anniversary celebration brought together government officials, development partners, and stakeholders in the digital identity space to reflect on two decades of progress and chart the way forward for Ghana’s identity ecosystem.
