The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has reiterated its directive prohibiting banks from photocopying the National Identification Card (Ghana Card) for banking transactions, emphasizing that biometric verification must be the standard for identity authentication.
This position was reinforced during a stakeholder engagement held at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, Accra, organized by Identity Management Systems II (IMS II) Limited in collaboration with the National Identification Authority (NIA).
The event, themed “Protect Every Transaction with Biometric Verification,” brought together key industry players, including the BoG, Ghana Association of Banks (GAB), NIA, and representatives from the 25 universal banks in Ghana, to discuss the role of identity verification in securing financial transactions.
Speaking at the forum, Ashitei Trebi-Ollennu, Deputy Head of the Financial Integrity Office at BoG, stressed that photocopying Ghana Cards for verification is an unacceptable practice that exposes the financial system to fraud.
“We have never said that banks should photocopy Ghana Cards. Photocopying leaves room for fraud and compromises the integrity of transactions,” he stated.
He emphasized that banks must authenticate customer identities through biometric verification, using the national identification database to ensure a secure and reliable financial ecosystem.
James Cantamantu-Koomson, Executive Director of IMS II Ltd., highlighted the growing need for robust identity management systems.
“The way we do things is changing. Identity is at the center of our financial system, and the database created by the NIA is one of the most powerful assets we have as a country,” he remarked.
He urged financial institutions to transition from traditional manual verification processes to a multi-modal biometric verification approach that eliminates security vulnerabilities and strengthens transaction integrity.
The Head of Legal at the NIA, Theresa Eson-Benjamin, reaffirmed that the Ghana Card is the sole legally recognized identification document for banking transactions, as stipulated under the National Identity Register Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2111).
She stressed that financial institutions must fully comply with this legal framework to standardize identity verification and enhance transaction security.
The engagement provided a platform for banks to share feedback on improving verification processes and enhancing efficiency in customer authentication.
The forum was attended by key figures, including:John Awuah, CEO of the Ghana Association of Banks (GAB),Audrey Mireku, Banking Operations, Risk, and Cybersecurity Expert, Naa Welbeck, Head of the Supervision Unit, Financial Integrity Office – BoG, Legal, technology, and biometric experts from the NIA and executives from all 25 universal banks in Ghana
Stakeholders emphasized that the financial sector must prioritize biometric verification to protect transactions and align with international best practices.
