Ghana has launched a major crackdown on identity theft and fraud with the introduction of stringent new regulations mandating electronic verification of national ID cards. The move, which has come into effect immediately, aims to tackle a growing problem that has plagued the West African nation for years. A culture of photocopying identification documents had become endemic in Ghana, but this practice is now officially outlawed.
The Ghana Card, a biometric national ID introduced over a decade ago, has revolutionised identity verification across the country. The card, which captures 10 fingerprints, iris scans, a photograph and signature, among other data, has become essential for accessing basic services such as banking, mobile phone registration, passports and driver's licences. As Ghanaian citizens and foreign residents alike rely heavily on these cards for everyday transactions, the National Identification Authority (NIA) has introduced new rules requiring organisations to use a dedicated mobile app for secure verification.
Under the new regulations, checking a card is no longer as simple as photocopying it or visually inspecting it. Instead, individuals and organisations must use the digital identity verification app to scan the card and match its biometric data with that stored on the system. According to Wisdom Yayra Koku Deku, Chief of the NIA, "It's now an offence to photocopy or visually inspect a Ghana Card for transaction purposes – biometric verification is mandatory."
Organisations found in breach of these new regulations face substantial fines, with potential penalties reaching up to 24,000 Ghanaian cedis (£1,550). Individuals who disregard the rules could also be fined up to 6,000 Ghanaian cedis (around £390). The NIA has urged any organisations not yet connected to its digital identity verification app to integrate it as soon as possible.
The government is expected to provide further updates on implementation and compliance in coming days. This move underlines Ghana's commitment to harnessing technology for enhanced national security and protecting its citizens from fraudulent activities, marking a significant step towards the nation's digital transformation journey.