In a significant way to protect individuals’ personal details and prevent fraud, the Bank of Ghana (BoG) has urged banks and financial institutions to desist from photocopying the National Identification Cards (Ghana Cards) to improve financial security and protection of personal identity.
The Bank said the world is advancing in technology, therefore individuals and institutions must also cope with its advancements, especially to champion biometric authentication.
At its core, this move is about more than just replacing photocopies with fingerprints but represents Ghana’s growing commitment to digital transformation and financial security. By leveraging the National Identification Authority’s (NIA) powerful biometric database, BoG is not only improving banking efficiency but also enhancing fraud prevention measures.
According to James Cantamantu-Koomson, Executive Director of IMS II Ltd., biometric verification marks a fundamental shift in identity management. He said: “The way we do things is changing and identity is at the center and the engine of our financial system, therefore it is important to secure and unify our national identity structure.”
BoG’s stance is clear: photocopying Ghana Cards introduces vulnerabilities, including identity theft and document fraud. Backing this stance by the BoG, Mr Ashitei Trebi-Ollennu, Deputy Head of the Financial Integrity Office at BoG, said: “We have never said that banks should photocopy Ghana Cards. Photocopying leaves room for fraud and compromises the integrity of transactions.” Instead, banks must authenticate identities directly through biometric verification linked to the national database.
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While the transition to biometric authentication presents a learning curve for financial institutions, it ultimately enhances trust in Ghana’s banking system. The NIA’s Head of Legal, Teresa Eson-Benjamin, reaffirmed that the law already mandated the Ghana Card as the sole identification for banking transactions. Aligning with this framework ensures that the country’s financial sector remains robust and resistant to fraud.
Beyond security, biometric verification also promises improved efficiency. Banks will no longer need to rely on cumbersome paper-based processes, streamlining customer onboarding and transaction approvals.
In addition, feedback from banking institutions highlighted the need for smoother integration between financial institutions and the national identity system to enhance the user experience. With this push for biometric verification, Ghana is positioning itself as a leader in digital identity security in Africa. transactions.
