National Identification Authority Warns Ghanaians

The National Identification Authority (NIA) has issued a stern warning to Ghanaians, urging the public to refrain from allowing institutions—particularly banks and financial service providers—to photocopy their Ghana Cards, describing the practice as both improper and illegal.

Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday, Williams Emmanuel Ampomah Dallas, Head of Corporate Affairs at the NIA, called for a halt to the practice, which he said compromises the integrity and security of the national identification system.

“Unfortunately, most of these institutions, instead of subscribing to our biometric verification platform and getting the right information, have resorted to taking the physical cards from applicants and making photocopies,” Dallas noted.

He emphasised that physical or visual inspection of the card (ocular verification) is insufficient and not permitted under the current protocols for identity authentication.

The NIA stressed that institutions requiring identity verification must access the official NIA biometric verification system, which is designed to ensure secure, real-time confirmation of identity using biometric data—not photocopied or scanned images.

“We want to use this medium to plead with the public: do not allow any institution to photocopy your Ghana Card. They are supposed to approach us directly. We give them the data to conduct proper biometric verification,” Dallas explained.

He warned that accepting photocopies as a form of verification exposes both individuals and institutions to the risk of identity theft, fraud, and data compromise.

Dallas called on citizens to refuse to submit their cards for photocopying and to demand that institutions use legitimate channels provided by the NIA. He also urged banks and other entities to register for access to the biometric platform, which offers accurate, secure, and lawful verification of identity.

“We do not accept institutions that are doing ocular verification. We can only get to the point of improved identity security if the public refuses to hand over their physical Ghana Cards for photocopying,” he stated.

The NIA reiterated its commitment to protecting the integrity of Ghana’s identity ecosystem and warned that continued non-compliance by institutions may lead to sanctions or legal action.