By Emmanuel Bamfo 
Ghana citizens must wake up because the National Identification Authority (NIA) has completely changed how the Ghana Card works for daily business. Under the newly gazetted amendment to L.I. 2111, the old ways of using your card have become illegal overnight.
Don’t Do Photocopy of Your Ghana Card
If any organization asks you to make a copy of your card, know that they are breaking the law. Photocopying, scanning, taking pictures, or saving paper copies of the Ghana Card for transactions is now a serious criminal offence.
This bold move protects your personal data from identity thieves who love stealing paper records. Institutions caught violating this law face heavy fines ranging from 500 to 2,000 penalty units.
Ocular Verification Is Out, Biometrics Are In
Tellers and agents can no longer just look at your card photo with their naked eyes to confirm who you are. Ocular verification is dead, and real-time biometric authentication through the official NIA database is now mandatory for every verification.
This system uses electronic card readers or liveness checks to match your fingerprints or face instantly. It eliminates human error, stops fake cards in their tracks, and speeds up service delivery.
If a teller at a bank asks for your Ghana Card PIN to verify you biometrically, do not panic. Entering your PIN or submitting to fingerprint scans to complete biometric verification is not a crime.
However, the moment that teller tries to run a photocopy, take a picture, or simply glance at your physical card to confirm your face, they are committing a crime. Kindly explain that the Bank of Ghana and NIA require them to use the Identity Verification System Platform (IVSP) instead.
Knowing your rights keeps your personal details safe and forces businesses to follow proper digital standards. Stand firm, say no to paper copies, and protect your identity everywhere you go.
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