By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
The National Identification Authority (NIA) has cautioned institutions across the country to desist from demanding photocopies of the Ghana Card for verification purposes, warning that the practice exposes citizens to identity theft and fraud.
According to the Head of Corporate Affairs at the NIA, Williams Ampomah E. Darlas, biometric verification through thumbprints and digital authentication remains the only lawful means of validating the national identity card.
“No, it’s not allowed. We are even amending our laws to give us the opportunity to punish institutions that request or photocopy the ID cards of citizens,” he said in an interview on Thursday, September 11, 2025.
Mr Darlas explained that photocopies increase the risk of identity theft, adding that once Parliament resumes, legislative amendments will be laid to strengthen the Authority’s mandate to protect the integrity of Ghana’s national identification system.
He noted that about 95 key institutions, including banks, government agencies, and regulatory bodies, are already connected to the NIA’s platform for real-time biometric verification. A mobile application is also being developed to extend secure access to smaller institutions, such as microfinance companies.
The NIA has so far registered 18.95 million Ghanaians, with more than 17.7 million cards issued to applicants. Officials say the Ghana Card has become the backbone of identity verification in the country, making photocopies both unnecessary and unlawful.
