The National Identification Authority (NIA) is facing growing scrutiny following reports that Ghana Cards, the country’s primary biometric identity document, are being obtained by people who may not qualify for them.
The Ghana Card, issued by the NIA, was designed to be Ghana’s most secure and reliable form of identification, serving as proof of citizenship and a requirement for key services such as banking, SIM registration, tax filing and passport applications. But recent reports from banks and other institutions suggest the system may be under strain, with instances of non‑citizens reportedly holding the card.
According to reports, groups of individuals have presented Ghana Cards while unable to speak any Ghanaian language or identify a hometown. These developments have sparked concerns about how the card is being issued and whether weaknesses in the registration process are being exploited.
Financial sector leaders warn that the implications could be far‑reaching. If cards are being issued to ineligible persons, they say, the risks go beyond administrative lapses. Improperly issued cards could be used to open bank accounts, access services or carry out fraudulent transactions, potentially undermining public trust in the Ghana Card as the country’s single source of identity.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Association of Banks publicly raised concerns about the trend, writing: “How come so many non‑Ghanaians are showing up at banks with Ghana Card? Some are coming to our banks in buses; they don’t speak any Ghanaian language, most can’t even mention their hometowns yet they have Ghana Card.”
He further noted that the card intended for citizens should be safeguarded, saying: “They are not being issued Ghana Card for non‑Ghanaians but the one that is reserved for Ghanaians which is very inappropriate.”
The CEO also cautioned that the credibility of the national identity system could suffer if concerns are not addressed. “Please do not let the few greedy NIA staff put the whole system at risk. If we lose Ghana Card to greed, what becomes of our identity as Ghanaians?” he warned, adding that the cards were already being used by “fraud syndicates to defraud Ghanaians.”
In response, the NIA’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Wisdom Yayra Koku Deku, acknowledged the concerns and assured the public that steps are being taken to address them. Writing in reaction to the CEO’s post, Mr. Deku stated: “Thank you for this. This is a serious issue we are confronted with each day and trust me we are working on it seriously.”
His remarks indicate that the Authority recognises the seriousness of the concerns raised and is actively working to strengthen the Ghana Card issuance process.
The Ghana Card was envisioned as more than an identification document, it was meant to unify records, streamline services and affirm Ghanaian identity for generations.
With questions now being asked about who is receiving it, and with the NIA boss acknowledging that the issue is under active review, attention is turning to what concrete measures will be introduced to safeguard the integrity of Ghana’s most important identity document.
