<h1><br></h1><p>The amended regulations make biometric verification through the NIA's Identity Verification System Platform (IVSP) the only lawful method of confirming the identity of a Ghana Card holder during official transactions. The changes took effect after the amended Legislative Instrument was gazetted on July 15, 2026.</p><p>Speaking on the new regulations, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the NIA, Wisdom Kwaku Deku, said the reforms are intended to protect Ghanaians from identity theft, fraud and the misuse of personal information. He explained that photocopies and physical inspection of the Ghana Card can no longer be used as proof of identity because they do not establish that the person presenting the card is its legitimate holder.</p><p>Under the new law, organisations that violate the regulations may, upon summary conviction, be fined between 500 and 2,000 penalty units, while individuals face fines ranging from 50 to 500 penalty units. Based on the current value of a penalty unit, institutions could face fines of GH¢6,000 to GH¢24,000, while individuals may be fined between GH¢600 and GH¢6,000.</p><p>The NIA has urged banks, telecommunications companies, government agencies, hospitals and all organisations that rely on the Ghana Card for identification to integrate with its biometric verification platform. The Authority says the move will strengthen the integrity of Ghana's national identification system and significantly reduce identity-related fraud.</p><p>The latest directive forms part of broader efforts by the NIA to modernise identity verification in Ghana, ensuring that every transaction involving the Ghana Card is backed by secure, real-time biometric authentication rather than photocopies or manual inspection.</p><p>Photo credit: graphiconlin.com, Ghana card sample</p>