The National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced that enforcement of the National Identity Register (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2523), will commence on November 3, following the expiration of the moratorium on November 2.
The Authority says all public and private institutions that rely on identity verification in their operations must immediately align their systems and procedures with the new regulations or risk sanctions.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra, Head of Corporate Communications at the NIA, William Ampomah Emmanuel Darlas, said institutions must review their existing identity verification arrangements and ensure that all verification services are obtained directly from the Authority.
He cautioned institutions that access to the National Identity Register through third-party arrangements not authorised by the NIA would not be tolerated.
Mr. Darlas said institutions requiring access to the National Identity Register must engage the Authority directly to regularise their arrangements and sign the necessary agreements.
He further stressed that all identity verification activities must be conducted using biometric verification methods and devices approved by the NIA.
The regulations prohibit the photographing, photocopying, scanning and retention of the Ghana Card by institutions for identity verification purposes.
However, Mr. Darlas clarified that the requirements do not prevent the use of the physical Ghana Card for biometric verification.
He explained that certain institutions, particularly telecommunications companies, use a match-on-card process which requires customers to present their physical cards so their fingerprints can be matched against the biometric information stored on the card’s chip.
He added that institutions such as banks, which are connected directly to the NIA’s verification platform, can authenticate customers using their Ghana Card numbers.
The NIA also clarified that the implementation of L.I. 2523 does not require citizens to register their biometrics again or obtain new Ghana Cards.
The Authority says biometric verification will rely on information already captured during the Ghana Card registration process, including fingerprints, iris and facial information.
Mr. Darlas further reminded institutions that they must comply with the Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843), in handling the personal information of customers.
He noted that the regulations also extend to individuals undertaking transactions that require identity verification, including private business transactions such as the sale of land.
To facilitate compliance, the NIA says it is developing a mobile application to support smaller institutions and individuals who may not have the capacity to independently access its verification platform.
The Authority has also urged members of the public to report institutions that violate the regulations to its Biometric Verification Implementation Taskforce.
Complaints can be lodged through the taskforce hotline on 0302 999 309.
The NIA says the enforcement exercise will involve engagements with institutions across the country to ensure full compliance with the regulations.
Story by ; Belinda Anim-Piesie
