Biometric verification of the Ghana Card is now mandatory for identity verification in transactions, following amendments to the National Identity Register Regulations.
The amended law, gazetted on Wednesday, July 15, replaces the previous practice of relying on photocopies or visual inspection of the Ghana Card.
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Under the new regulations, organisations that fail to use biometric verification commit an offence and, upon summary conviction, face fines ranging from 500 to 2,000 penalty units.
Individuals who breach the law are also liable to fines of between 50 and 500 penalty units.
The Minister responsible for the National Identification Authority (NIA) is expected to announce details of the implementation and enforcement of the amended regulations.
The NIA has advised organisations seeking to integrate with its Identity Verification Platform to apply for onboarding through the Authority’s designated verification channel.
The National Identity Register Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2111), make the Ghana Card the primary national identification document for key transactions, including voter registration, banking, SIM registration and access to public services.
The amended regulations now prohibit institutions and individuals from relying solely on visual inspection or photocopies of the Ghana Card for identity verification.
