Starting now, you can’t use a photocopy of your Ghana Card anymore. Banks, mobile money agents, telcos, and government offices must scan your physical card using a special biometric app instead. Photocopies are officially banned.
Here’s why this matters and what you need to do.
What’s changing with Ghana Card verification
For years, many businesses checked your Ghana Card one of two ways: they looked at it by eye, or they photocopied it and kept the copy on file. Both methods are now illegal.
Under the new rule, any organisation that handles Ghana Cards must use a mobile phone app that scans your card’s biometric data. The app reads your fingerprints, iris scan, photo, and signature captured on the card and compares them to verify you are who you say you are.
The National Identification Authority (NIA), which manages Ghana Cards, says this shift stops criminals from using fake or copied ID cards to impersonate you in transactions.
Who is affected and what are the penalties
This applies to every bank, mobile money agent, SIM card seller, government agency, and any other business that verifies your identity. If they continue using photocopies or just looking at your card without scanning it, they face:
- Organisations: fines up to GHS 24,000 (~USD 2,100)
- Individuals: fines up to GHS 6,000 (~USD 525)
Prosecution is possible, not just a warning.
What you should do now
If you use banking, mobile money, or any government service, you probably won’t notice much change. The business will scan your card at the counter or during online setup instead of taking a photocopy. You still bring your physical Ghana Card as always.
The real work falls on organisations. NIA has told all businesses that are not yet connected to its biometric verification app to sign up immediately. The government will brief the public on the implementation in the coming days.
Watch this space: Look out for official announcements from NIA and your bank or mobile money provider about how they’re updating their ID-checking process. If a business asks you for a Ghana Card photocopy, politely refuse and ask them to use the official app instead.
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