Ghana Card Now Core Infrastructure for National Service Delivery – Interior Minister
The Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, has declared the Ghana Card system as a core infrastructure driving Ghana’s national service delivery and digital transformation agenda, saying the country’s biometric identity platform has become central to how citizens access essential services.
Speaking at the 20th anniversary celebration of the National Identification Authority in Accra, the Minister said the biometric identity system, which began development in 2006, has evolved from a basic identification tool into a critical platform linking Ghanaians to finance, healthcare, telecommunications, and public administration.
“The Ghana Card has moved beyond identification. It is now a gateway for inclusion and efficiency in governance,” Hon. Muntaka said. “It is the backbone that allows us to deliver services faster, more securely, and with greater accountability.”
He stressed that the next phase of the system must focus on expanding coverage to ensure that no Ghanaian is left behind, particularly in rural and underserved communities where access to registration services has historically been limited.
Identity as a foundation for development
Hon. Muntaka emphasized that identity management is no longer just an administrative function but a pillar of national security, economic growth, and social inclusion. He said a trusted and verifiable identity system reduces fraud, improves planning, and enables targeted delivery of social interventions.
“Continued reforms must focus on system integrity, data protection, and innovation,” he noted. “When citizens can trust that their identity is secure and recognized everywhere, it builds confidence in the state and accelerates development.”
The Minister assured the NIA of government’s continued support for its reform agenda, including efforts to modernize infrastructure, strengthen data security, and integrate the Ghana Card across more service points. He commended the Authority’s leadership, particularly Executive Secretary Wisdom Kwaku Deku, for improving operations, clearing card backlogs, and expanding access to registration services in recent months.
Two decades of progress
The NIA’s 20th anniversary marks two decades since Ghana began building a centralized biometric identity system. Over the years, the Authority has registered more than 19.4 million Ghanaians and processed over 200 million biometric verification requests without interruption, according to officials.
The Ghana Card has also gained international recognition, with acceptance at more than 44,000 airports worldwide and for travel within the ECOWAS sub-region. Officials say this reflects growing confidence in the integrity of Ghana’s identity infrastructure.
The Authority has recently resumed nationwide registration for children aged 6 to 14 and resolved technical challenges affecting registration for children aged 0 to 5. Since the exercise resumed on May 5, 2026, over 90,000 children in the Volta and Oti Regions have been registered.
A tool for inclusion and efficiency
Stakeholders at the anniversary event said the Ghana Card is increasingly functioning as a single source of truth for identity verification, reducing duplication and cutting costs for both government and private institutions. Banks, mobile network operators, health facilities, and public agencies now rely on the system for real-time verification.
Hon. Muntaka said this shift is critical to Ghana’s broader digital transformation goals, including the rollout of e-government services and the expansion of financial inclusion. He added that a robust identity system also strengthens the country’s ability to respond to security threats and manage migration effectively.
“As we mark 20 years, our focus must be on building a system that is inclusive, secure, and future-ready,” he said. “Identity is the foundation upon which modern service delivery rests.”
The celebration brought together government officials, development partners, civil society, and technology experts to reflect on the NIA’s achievements and discuss priorities for the next phase of Ghana’s digital identity journey.
