The Ghana Card has evolved from a basic identification tool into the backbone of national service delivery, with government announcing sweeping reforms to make biometric verification mandatory for all transactions and expand coverage to every Ghanaian child.
Speaking at the National Identification Authority’s 20th anniversary celebration in Accra, Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, described the Ghana Card system as “core infrastructure” driving the country’s digital transformation and service delivery agenda.
“The Ghana Card has moved beyond identification. It is now a gateway for inclusion and efficiency in governance,” Hon. Muntaka said. “It is the backbone that allows us to deliver services faster, more securely, and with greater accountability.”
He noted that the biometric identity system, developed since 2006, now links citizens to essential services including finance, healthcare, telecommunications, and public administration. According to the Minister, the next phase must focus on expanding coverage to ensure no Ghanaian is left behind, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
Biometric verification to become mandatory
Executive Secretary of the NIA, Wisdom Kwaku Deku, announced that proposed amendments to the National Identity Register Regulations, currently before Parliament, will make biometric verification mandatory for all transactions.
“It will now be an offence to make photocopies or merely rely on visual inspections of the card. All transactions must go through biometric verification,” Mr. Deku said.
The move is aimed at strengthening security and curbing identity fraud, which officials say has been enabled by the continued use of photocopies and visual checks. Once passed, the new regulations will require banks, telecommunications companies, government agencies, and private institutions to verify identity through the NIA’s biometric system in real time.
The announcement marks a decisive shift in how the Ghana Card is used. For years, many institutions have accepted photocopies as proof of identity. Under the new framework, only biometric verification will be recognized as valid.
Expanding coverage to children
As part of efforts to achieve universal legal identity coverage, the NIA has resumed nationwide registration of children between the ages of 6 and 14. Mr. Deku said technical challenges affecting registration for children aged 0 to 5 have also been resolved.
Since the exercise resumed on May 5, 2026, over 90,000 children in the Volta and Oti Regions have already been registered.
“This means that a child born in Ghana can now begin life with a legal identity,” Mr. Deku stated.
The expansion is expected to improve access to education, healthcare, and social services, while providing the government with more accurate data for planning and resource allocation. Officials say capturing children early will reduce duplication, prevent identity gaps, and ensure that every Ghanaian is accounted for in the national register.
International recognition and system growth
Mr. Deku highlighted the growing international standing of the Ghana Card, revealing that it is now accepted at more than 44,000 airports worldwide and can be used for travel within the ECOWAS sub-region.
“This recognition reflects the confidence that the international community has placed in our identity system,” he noted.
Since its inception, the NIA has registered over 19.4 million Ghanaians and processed more than 200 million biometric verification requests without interruption. The Authority credits improved operations, cleared backlogs, and expanded registration points for the progress made in recent months.
“We are not merely issuing identity cards; we are building the digital foundation of a modern Ghana,” Mr. Deku said.
Identity as a pillar of security and development
Hon. Muntaka stressed that identity management is now central to national security, economic growth, and social inclusion. A trusted and verifiable identity system, he said, reduces fraud, improves planning, and enables targeted delivery of social interventions.
“Continued reforms must focus on system integrity, data protection, and innovation,” the Minister said. “When citizens can trust that their identity is secure and recognized everywhere, it builds confidence in the state and accelerates development.”
He assured the NIA of government’s continued support for its reform agenda and commended Mr. Deku’s leadership for improving service delivery and expanding access to registration.
Building the digital foundation
Stakeholders at the anniversary event said the Ghana Card is increasingly functioning as a single source of truth for identity verification, cutting costs and reducing duplication across both public and private sectors. The push toward mandatory biometric verification is expected to accelerate the rollout of e-government services and strengthen financial inclusion.
As Ghana marks 20 years of its national identity program, officials say the focus is now on building a system that is inclusive, secure, and future-ready.
“Identity is the foundation upon which modern service delivery rests,” Hon. Muntaka said. “With the reforms underway, we are laying the groundwork for a more efficient and accountable Ghana.”
