News summary produced by Claude AI
Ghana’s National Identification Authority has implemented new regulations requiring all businesses and institutions to use a biometric app scanner when verifying national identity cards, replacing traditional methods of visual inspection and photocopying.
The Ghana Card, a plastic biometric ID introduced over the last decade, has become essential for accessing banking services, registering mobile phone lines, obtaining passports, and acquiring driver’s licenses. The card stores comprehensive biometric data including 10 fingerprints, iris scans, along with the holder’s photograph and signature.
Under the amended regulations, organizations and individuals are now prohibited from photocopying or visually inspecting Ghana Cards for transaction purposes. Instead, they must use a mobile phone application that verifies the card’s biometric data through scanning. The National Identification Authority chief stated that biometric verification is now mandatory for all identity card checks.
Non-compliance carries significant penalties. Organizations that continue using photocopies or visual verification methods risk prosecution and fines of up to 24,000 Ghanaian cedis, approximately $2,100. Individuals who fail to comply may face fines of up to 6,000 Ghanaian cedis, around $525. The authority has called on organizations not yet connected to its digital verification system to begin implementation immediately.
Official government briefings on the new regulations and compliance measures are planned for the coming days. The move aims to strengthen security infrastructure and curtail fraudulent activities, particularly identity impersonation schemes that have been enabled by less secure verification methods.