Johannesburg, South Africa — In a bid to bolster national security and prevent fraud, the National Identification Authority (NIA) of Ghana has introduced a new rule requiring all businesses and institutions to use biometric app scanners for verifying Ghana Cards. This shift from visual checks or photocopied records, which were previously insufficient to prevent impersonation, is outlined in amendments to Legislative Instrument (LI) 2111.
The Ghana Card, a biometric national ID introduced over a decade ago, is a vital component of daily life in Ghana, serving as a gateway to essential services such as banking, SIM card registration, and obtaining passports and driver’s licenses.
The NIA’s new regulations aim to address the vulnerabilities that have allowed for identity fraud, particularly in mobile money (MoMo) transactions. Under the new rules, any Ghana Card linked to multiple MoMo fraud cases will be blocked, thereby preventing offenders from accessing telecom services and public systems.
The Ghana Card, which contains biometric data such as fingerprints, iris scans, photograph, and signature, provides a more secure means of verifying identity.
The NIA has also encouraged organizations that have not yet connected to its digital identity verification app to do so immediately to ensure compliance with the new regulations. This crackdown on Ghana ID cards is part of a broader effort to digitize national identity management and improve security across the country.
The government’s move is expected to bolster trust in the Ghana Card system and reduce the incidence of fraud in various sectors.
However, it also raises questions about privacy and data protection, as the NIA implements these changes, balancing security concerns with the need to protect personal information.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: BBC Africa
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