The Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA), Mr. Wisdom Yayra Koku Deku, has affirmed that the Ghana Card can now be read and recognised at more than 44,000 airports worldwide, describing the achievement as a major breakthrough for Ghana’s digital identity infrastructure and international recognition system.
According to him, the Ghana Card has evolved into one of Africa’s most technologically advanced identity cards and now meets international standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the global body responsible for setting standards for travel documents and airport identity systems.
Mr. Deku made the disclosure during the 20th anniversary celebration of the National Identification Authority, where he outlined the progress, achievements, and future direction of Ghana’s national identification system.
Ghana Card now globally machine-readable
The Ghana Card contains a highly sophisticated electronic chip embedded with digital identity information that can be recognised and validated by airport systems globally.
The Ghana Card is now technically recognised as an Electronic Machine Readable Travel Document (e-MRTD), similar to modern biometric passports used internationally.
What this means is that all Ghanaians returning to Ghana through any of the over 44,000 airports around the world can use the Ghana Card and it can be read by airport systems.
The breakthrough became possible because Ghana’s digital signing certificate and the embedded chip technology comply fully with ICAO international standards.
The electronic chip on the card contains encrypted identity data which allows airport machines and border control systems to verify the authenticity of the card electronically.
The Ghana Card is digitally signed and can be validated by ICAO-compliant systems globally.
Similar technology used in e-passports
The technology behind the Ghana Card is similar to the electronic chips embedded in modern biometric passports.
The chip enables airport scanners and border verification systems to confirm that the document is authentic and issued by the Government of Ghana.
Technically, the Ghana Card can now be read by ICAO-compliant airport systems, including some mobile devices equipped with ICAO-approved applications.
The newer version of the Ghana Card uses upgraded ICAO 2.0 chip technology which allows the card not only to be read electronically but also written to digitally.
This means future electronic visa systems could potentially be integrated directly onto the Ghana Card.
Recognition does not replace passports yet
Though the Ghana Card is internationally machine-readable, it does not yet replace the conventional Ghana passport for most international travel.
There remains an important distinction between a document being recognised by airport machines and being fully accepted as a standalone international travel document.
Most countries still operate immigration systems designed around traditional passport booklets which allow for physical visas, immigration stamps, entry records, and border control procedures.
Operationally, many countries’ systems are not yet configured to process national identity cards in the same manner as passports.
As a result, Ghanaians travelling out of the county internationally will still require valid passports despite the advanced capabilities of the Ghana Card.
ECOWAS recognition boosts regional travel
The Ghana Card has already gained growing recognition within the ECOWAS sub-region as a valid travel and identification document.
This has significantly improved cross-border travel, identity verification, and movement within West Africa.
The recognition is expected to further strengthen regional integration, facilitate trade, and simplify identity checks for Ghanaian citizens travelling across ECOWAS member states.
Over 19.4 million registered
Providing an update on the progress of the national identification exercise, Mr. Deku revealed that the NIA has so far registered more than 19.4 million people aged 15 years and above.
Out of that number, over 18.7 million Ghana Cards have already been issued nationwide.
He said the Authority has also registered more than 229,000 foreign nationals currently residing in Ghana.
According to him, the Ghana Card has become central to identity verification across multiple sectors, including banking, telecommunications, healthcare, taxation, social protection, and financial services.
Over 200 million biometric verifications processed
Mr. Deku further disclosed that the NIA’s Identity Verification System Platform has processed more than 200 million biometric verification transactions since its establishment.
The platform supports fingerprint and facial verification services used by banks, telecom companies, financial institutions, and government agencies to confirm identities securely.
He noted that the growing use of biometric verification demonstrates increasing national dependence on the Ghana Card as the backbone of Ghana’s digital identity ecosystem.
Child registration resumes
The NIA boss also announced that the Authority has resumed nationwide registration exercises for children between the ages of six and 14 years.
The exercise, he said, forms part of efforts to establish a comprehensive national identity database covering all citizens from childhood.
Officials believe early registration will improve access to education, healthcare, social protection programmes, and future digital services.
Proposed law to make biometric verification mandatory
Mr. Deku further revealed that proposed legal reforms currently before Parliament seek to make biometric identity verification compulsory for certain transactions and services.
According to him, the proposed changes are intended to strengthen identity security, reduce fraud, and improve the reliability of Ghana’s digital identification infrastructure.
He stressed that mandatory biometric verification would enhance trust in transactions across both the public and private sectors.
Ghana emerging as digital identity leader
Ghana’s digital identity system is increasingly being recognised as one of the most advanced and interoperable identity ecosystems in Africa.
The Ghana Card today supports millions of daily identity verification requests and has become critical to Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance, mobile money interoperability, banking services, SIM registration, and digital public service delivery.
