Minister for the Interior, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak, has described the Ghana Card as one of the country’s most important national assets, saying it has evolved beyond a simple identification document into a critical tool for national security, governance and economic inclusion.
Speaking at the launch of the 20th anniversary celebrations of the National Identification Authority (NIA) in Accra on Thursday under the theme “Reflecting on the Past, Securing the Future,” the Minister said Ghana’s biometric identity system had become indispensable to effective service delivery and national development.
He noted that since its establishment in 2006, the NIA had undergone significant transformation despite facing numerous challenges and resource constraints during its formative years.
According to him, the Authority has grown from a conceptual national project into a robust and technologically advanced biometric identity ecosystem that now serves millions of Ghanaians.
“Building a national identity system is a continuous journey, one that must evolve alongside our people, our economy and our national aspirations,” Alhaji Muntaka stated.
The Minister highlighted three strategic priorities that government intends to pursue to strengthen the country’s identity management framework and ensure its long-term sustainability.
These priorities include achieving universal identity coverage so that every Ghanaian is captured within the national database, safeguarding the integrity and security of citizens’ personal data, and promoting innovation to make identity-related services more efficient, accessible and responsive to public needs.
He stressed that a comprehensive and secure identity system was essential for improving governance, enhancing public service delivery and supporting broader national development objectives.
Alhaji Muntaka further reaffirmed government’s commitment to supporting the NIA in its mandate and called on staff, stakeholders and development partners to continue working together to deepen the gains made over the past two decades.
He urged all partners to sustain efforts aimed at strengthening identity management systems not only in Ghana but across the sub-region.
Also addressing the gathering, Executive Secretary of the NIA, Mr. Wisdom Kwaku Deku, reflected on the Authority’s achievements over the last 20 years and emphasized the growing role of technology in modernizing operations and improving efficiency.
He said technological advancements had enabled the NIA to streamline its processes, expand access to identity services and enhance the reliability of the national identification system.
Mr. Deku maintained that the Ghana Card remains a vital instrument for promoting social and economic inclusion, providing citizens with easier access to a wide range of public and private services.
He noted that the card continues to play an increasingly important role in supporting financial inclusion, identity verification and access to government services, making it a key component of Ghana’s digital transformation agenda.
The anniversary launch brought together government officials, development partners, industry stakeholders and staff of the Authority to celebrate two decades of progress in national identity management and to outline the path for future improvements.
