NIA Ghana: L.I. 2523 Mandates Ghana Card Biometric Verification

• Ghana's L.I. 2523, the National Identity Register Amendment Regulation, 2026, mandates biometric verification for identity checks.
• Existing Ghana Cards remain valid, and no new cards or fresh biometric registrations are required under the new law.
• The regulation prohibits photocopying, scanning, or solely visually inspecting Ghana Cards for verification.
• Approved methods include match-on-card verification and API integration, with the NIA providing a mobile app for individuals and small businesses.
• The NIA urges institutions and individuals to seek clarification and report violations to ensure compliance with the new Ghana Card identity verification law.

The National Identification Authority has clarified that this regulatory update does not necessitate the issuance of new Ghana Cards or require citizens to undergo fresh biometric registration.

Ghana has implemented a significant change in its identity verification protocols with the enactment of the National Identity Register Amendment Regulation, 2026, officially known as L.I. 2523. This new Ghana Card identity verification law makes biometric verification mandatory for institutions and individuals, moving away from the previous reliance on simple visual inspection of the national identification document. The National Identification Authority (NIA) has clarified that this regulatory update does not necessitate the issuance of new Ghana Cards or require citizens to undergo fresh biometric registration.

According to Mr. Williams Ampomah Emmanuel Darlas, Head of the NIA Corporate Affairs Directorate, speaking at a press conference in Accra, the primary objective of L.I. 2523 is to bolster identity security across the nation. The regulation aims to proactively prevent instances of impersonation and identity fraud, while simultaneously enhancing the protection of personal information associated with the Ghana Card. This shift underscores a commitment to more robust and secure identity management practices within the country.

Despite the new requirements, the NIA has confirmed that the existing Ghana Card retains its status as the country's official national identity document and will continue to be accepted for all transactions demanding identity verification. The core of the new biometric verification process relies on the data captured during a cardholder's initial registration, including fingerprints, iris details, and facial features, all securely stored on the card's embedded chip. Therefore, individuals are not required to re-register their biometrics or replace their current cards; for example, cards issued in 2018 will remain valid until 2028, adhering to their ten-year validity period.

The NIA has also provided crucial NIA Ghana Card clarification regarding acceptable verification methods. While the regulation prohibits Ghana Card photocopying, scanning, and visual inspection as primary verification, it explicitly permits the physical presentation of the card for biometric authentication. Telecommunications companies and certain banks already utilize a process known as Ghana Card match-on-card verification, where customers present their physical cards to match their fingerprints against the biometric information on the chip. This method is fully compliant with the new L.I. 2523 biometric verification mandate. Additionally, institutions integrated with the NIA’s verification platform via an Application Programming Interface (API) can verify customers using their Ghana Card numbers. However, any subsequent reliance on visual inspection, photocopying, or scanning by these API-connected institutions would constitute a violation of the regulation.

The reach of L.I. 2523 extends beyond corporate entities, applying to individuals under Regulations 9A and 9B. This means that private citizens must also employ biometric verification when engaging in transactions that require identity confirmation, such as land transactions. In such scenarios, solely inspecting another party's Ghana Card is no longer sufficient to establish identity.

To facilitate compliance for individuals and small businesses that may not have direct access to the NIA’s verification platform, the Authority has developed a dedicated mobile application. This app enables users to confirm identities by providing a simple yes-or-no response, critically without disclosing any personal information of the cardholder. The NIA assures the public that robust measures are in place to safeguard any information accessed through this application. The public is encouraged to seek clarification from the NIA for any uncertainties regarding the regulation's application and to report any institutional violations through the Biometric Verification Implementation Task Force hotline at 030-2999-309.

Lawyers and compliance officers must update identity verification protocols to comply with Ghana's L.I. 2523, ensuring mandatory biometric verification and ceasing reliance on visual inspection, photocopying, or scanning of Ghana Cards. They should advise clients that existing Ghana Cards remain valid and new registrations are not required for this regulation, while also being aware of the NIA's mobile app for individual/small business verification.

Source: Original reporting via GNA