Key facts
- All businesses and institutions in Ghana must use a biometric app scanner to check national ID cards.
- Photocopying or visually inspecting a Ghana Card for transactions is now an offense.
- Biometric verification, including fingerprints and iris scans, is mandatory.
- Organizations face fines up to 24,000 Ghanaian cedis ($2,100) for non-compliance.
- Individuals face fines up to 6,000 Ghanaian cedis ($525) for non-compliance.
Ghana has implemented new regulations requiring all businesses and institutions to use a biometric app scanner for verifying national identity cards, effectively banning the use of photocopies and visual checks. This move by the National Identification Authority (NIA) aims to strengthen security and curb fraud, as previous methods allowed criminals to impersonate individuals.
The Ghana Card, which contains biometric data including fingerprints, iris scans, photographs, and signatures, is essential for daily life in the West African nation, required for accessing banking services, registering SIM cards, and obtaining passports or driver's licenses.
NIA chief Wisdom Yayra Koku Deku stated that it is now an offense to use photocopies or visual inspections for transactions, with biometric verification being mandatory. Organizations found in violation risk prosecution and fines of up to 24,000 Ghanaian cedis (approximately $2,100 or £1,550), while individuals face fines of up to 6,000 Ghanaian cedis (approximately $525 or £390). The NIA is urging organizations not yet connected to its digital identity verification app to initiate the process immediately. The government is expected to provide further details on the implementation of these amended regulations and compliance measures.