Photocopying Ghana Card Now a Criminal Offence as NIA Introduces Mandatory Biometric Verification
Ghana has taken a major step in strengthening its national identity system and protecting citizens against identity fraud with the introduction of a new law that criminalises the photocopying of the Ghana Card for identification purposes.
The National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced that the amendment to the National Identity Register Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2111), has officially come into force following its publication in the Gazette. Under the new legal framework, organisations and individuals are no longer permitted to photocopy or rely on the visual inspection of a Ghana Card when verifying a person’s identity during any transaction.
Speaking on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the NIA, Wisdom Kwaku Deku, explained that biometric verification has now become the only legally recognised method for confirming the identity of a Ghana Card holder.
The new regulation marks a significant shift in Ghana’s digital identity system as the country continues to tighten security measures aimed at preventing identity theft, financial fraud and the misuse of personal information.
Heavy penalties for offenders
The amended regulations introduce strict sanctions for anyone who violates the law. Institutions found guilty of photocopying Ghana Cards or relying on visual inspection instead of biometric verification could face fines ranging from GH¢6,000 to GH¢24,000 upon summary conviction.
Individuals who breach the regulations are also liable to fines ranging from GH¢600 to GH¢6,000, based on the current penalty unit of GH¢12.
The NIA believes these penalties will discourage outdated verification practices and encourage organisations to adopt secure digital verification systems that better protect the identities of Ghanaians.
Biometric verification now the only lawful option
Under the new legal regime, organisations are prohibited from requesting photocopies of Ghana Cards or merely examining the physical card before providing services.
Instead, all identity verification involving the Ghana Card must be conducted through the National Identification Authority’s biometric verification platform. This system confirms an individual’s identity by matching biometric data, making it significantly more secure than relying on physical copies of identification documents.
The NIA says the new requirement will help reduce identity fraud, document forgery and other crimes linked to the misuse of personal identification documents.
A reform years in the making
The latest amendment follows a series of reforms introduced by the NIA and the Bank of Ghana over the past year to eliminate the widespread practice of photocopying Ghana Cards.
In March 2025, the Bank of Ghana and the NIA held extensive discussions with the Ghana Association of Banks and all 25 universal banks to reinforce proper identity verification procedures within the banking sector.
During the engagement, officials stressed that the central bank had never authorised banks to photocopy customers’ Ghana Cards. They warned that retaining photocopies exposed customers to identity theft and financial fraud.
The NIA also reaffirmed that the Ghana Card remains the only legally recognised identity document for banking transactions in Ghana.
Later, in September 2025, the Authority announced plans to amend its regulations to impose sanctions on institutions that continued to photocopy Ghana Cards despite repeated warnings.
Banking sector already operating under stricter rules
The banking industry has already begun implementing enhanced identity verification procedures following the Bank of Ghana’s revised Supervisory Guidance Note, which became effective in October 2025.
The guidance requires all regulated financial institutions to use the Ghana Card as the primary identity document for Ghanaian citizens, permanent residents, resident ECOWAS nationals, refugees and other eligible foreign nationals.
It also introduced biometric liveness verification for customers opening bank accounts through digital platforms and restricted financial institutions from conducting certain transactions for persons who do not possess a Ghana Card, Non-Citizen Identity Card or Refugee Identity Card, except under limited circumstances permitted by law.
NIA calls on organisations to comply
According to Mr. Deku, the new amendment extends the biometric verification requirement beyond banks to every organisation that relies on the Ghana Card to verify the identity of clients, customers or service users.
He urged all institutions that have not yet connected to the NIA’s biometric identity verification platform to begin the onboarding process immediately to ensure compliance with the law and avoid sanctions.
The NIA believes that the nationwide adoption of biometric verification will strengthen Ghana’s digital identity ecosystem, improve public confidence in identity verification systems and provide stronger protection against identity-related crimes.
As Ghana continues to expand digital services across both the public and private sectors, the new law represents another significant milestone in safeguarding personal data, enhancing national security and ensuring that identity verification is carried out through secure, reliable and legally approved methods.
