The Ministry for the Interior has announced that biometric verification will now be the only approved method for authenticating Ghana Card holders, as government moves to strengthen identity security and tackle fraud.
The new directive, contained in the National Identity Register (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2523), prohibits the use of photocopies, scanned images, or duplicated versions of Ghana Cards as valid means of identification for verification purposes.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra, Interior Minister Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak said institutions that fail to comply with the new regulations could face sanctions, including financial penalties and suspension of access to the national identification verification system.
He explained that simply inspecting a Ghana Card visually would no longer be enough for transactions that require identity confirmation.
“Organisations offering the transactions listed under Regulation 7 of L.I. 2523 must verify identity through biometric authentication against the National Identity Register or through match-on-card verification using devices approved by the National Identification Authority,” the Minister stated.
Under the new rules, organisations will not be permitted to request, keep, reproduce, or rely on photocopies, scanned copies, or images of Ghana Cards as a form of verification.
Mr Mubarak added that individuals verifying another person’s identity in private or informal transactions would also be required to use biometric verification where possible and must not store or share information obtained from the Ghana Card without legal approval or the consent of the cardholder.
He said the move is aimed at protecting personal data, preventing identity theft, and ensuring that Ghana’s national identification system remains secure.
The Interior Minister further announced a three-month transition period for both public and private institutions to integrate the biometric verification system into their operations before full enforcement of the new regulations begins.
