The National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced that institutions and individuals can no longer photocopy or visually inspect the Ghana Card for identity verification during transactions.
The NIA said biometric verification of the Ghana Card is now mandatory for all transactions requiring identity authentication.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, July 15, Executive Secretary of the NIA, Wisdom Yayra Koku Deku, said the directive follows the coming into force of amendments to the National Identity Register Regulations, contained in Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2111.
The amended regulations, which were laid before Parliament three months ago, were gazetted on Wednesday.
Under the new regulations, institutions that continue to rely on photocopies or visual inspection of the Ghana Card for identity verification could face fines ranging from 500 to 2,000 penalty units upon summary conviction.
Individuals who breach the regulations could also face fines between 50 and 500 penalty units.
“It is now an offence to photocopy or visually inspect a Ghana Card for the purpose of transaction. Biometric verification is now MANDATORY,” Mr Deku stated.
He added that the sector minister would brief the public in the coming days on the implementation of the amended regulations and measures to ensure compliance.
Mr Deku also encouraged organisations seeking access to the NIA’s Identity Verification Platform to begin the onboarding process by contacting the Authority.
The NIA said the new measures are aimed at strengthening the Ghana Card’s role as a secure means of identity verification, improving the integrity of authentication processes and reducing the risks associated with the use of photocopies or visual inspection of identity cards.
