The Government of Ghana has introduced a major reform to strengthen identity protection, combat fraud, and safeguard citizens’ personal data by making biometric verification the mandatory standard for all Ghana Card transactions.
The new measure, contained in the National Identity Register Amendment Regulation, 2026 (LI 2523), was announced by the Minister for the Interior, Hon. Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, and will be enforced by the National Identification Authority (NIA) as part of efforts to enhance the integrity of Ghana’s national identity system.
The regulation amends LI 2111 and ends the long-standing practice of relying on visual inspection, photocopies, scanned images, or retained copies of the Ghana Card as proof of identity. Instead, institutions will now be required to verify identities through biometric authentication against the National Identity Database or through approved match-on-card technology.
Government officials say the reform is designed to close loopholes that have exposed citizens to identity theft, financial fraud, SIM registration abuse, and other crimes linked to the misuse of personal information.
Speaking on the significance of the regulation, Hon. Muntaka Mubarak said the government was determined to ensure that every Ghanaian’s identity data is protected from unauthorized access and misuse.
“This regulation closes the gap that allowed photocopies and visual checks to expose citizens’ personal information. Our goal is to protect the identity of every Ghanaian and strengthen trust in the national identification system,” the Minister stated.
Under the new framework, organizations listed under Regulation Seven of LI 2111 including banks, telecommunications companies, insurance firms, hospitals, schools, and government institutions must adopt NIA-approved biometric verification systems.
The regulation further prohibits institutions from requesting, reproducing, retaining, or relying on photocopies and scanned images of Ghana Cards for verification purposes. Unauthorized biometric verification methods have also been outlawed.
To facilitate a smooth transition, government has granted a three-month onboarding and implementation period from July 27 to November 2, 2026, during which institutions are expected to integrate with the National Identification Hub (NIH), acquire approved devices, and train personnel.
Reinforcing the government’s commitment to enforcement, NIA Executive Secretary Wisdom Yayra Koku Deku announced that strict compliance checks will begin immediately after the transition period.
According to him, institutions must complete onboarding to the NIH platform before the November deadline or risk sanctions under the law.
“The Ghana Card must be verified biometrically; photocopying is prohibited. You have not fully identified that the person is the true owner of the Ghana Card until you perform biometric verification,” Deku stressed.
He disclosed that a dedicated biometric enforcement taskforce, working alongside law enforcement agencies, will conduct nationwide inspections after November 2 to ensure institutions comply with the new requirements.
Institutions found violating the regulation could face fines, suspension, or termination of access to the NIA verification platform, while individuals who unreasonably refuse lawful biometric verification may also face penalties under the law.
As part of the implementation strategy, the NIA will publish specifications for approved biometric devices and portable card readers and provide technical assistance to institutions seeking integration with the verification platform.
The Authority is also preparing a nationwide public education campaign in local languages to ensure broad awareness of the new requirements. The outreach programme will engage communities, businesses, and stakeholders across the country, highlighting the role of biometric verification in preventing identity theft, SIM-card registration fraud, and other identity-related crimes.
Government says the initiative forms part of its broader digital transformation agenda and efforts to build a secure, trusted, and efficient national identification ecosystem capable of supporting public service delivery, financial inclusion, and national security objectives.
Officials are urging citizens to insist on biometric verification whenever they are asked to present their Ghana Cards and to reject requests for photocopies or unauthorized retention of their personal information.
With the rollout of LI 2523, government believes Ghana is taking a significant step toward strengthening data protection, improving public confidence in identity verification processes, and safeguarding the integrity of the country’s digital identity infrastructure.
Story by Osman Issah Abadoo
