The National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced that it is now an offence for institutions and individuals to photocopy or visually inspect a Ghana Card for identity verification during transactions.
According to the Executive Secretary of the NIA, Wisdom Yayra Koku Deku, biometric verification of the Ghana Card is now mandatory for all transactions that require identity authentication.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, July 15, Mr. Deku said the new requirement follows the coming into force of amendments to the National Identity Register Regulations contained in Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2111, which was laid before Parliament three months ago and gazetted on Wednesday.
Under the amended regulations, institutions that continue to rely on photocopies or visual inspection of the Ghana Card for identity verification could face fines of between 500 and 2,000 penalty units upon summary conviction.
Individuals who breach the regulations could also be liable to fines ranging from 50 to 500 penalty units.
“It is now an offence to photocopy or visually inspect a Ghana Card for the purpose of transaction. Biometric verification is now MANDATORY,” he wrote.
Mr. Deku said the sector minister would, in the coming days, brief the public on the implementation of the amended regulations and measures to ensure compliance.
He also encouraged organisations seeking access to the NIA’s Identity Verification Platform to begin the onboarding process by contacting the Authority.
The NIA said the new measures are intended to strengthen the Ghana Card’s role as a secure means of identity verification, improve the integrity of authentication processes, and reduce the risks associated with the use of photocopies or visual inspection of identity cards.
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