By Daily Statesman
Copyright dailystatesman
The Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA), Mr. Wisdom Kwaku Deku, has announced that the Authority is set to introduce stricter measures to ensure that biometric verification becomes a mandatory requirement for accessing public services in Ghana. This will be achieved through proposed amendments to the NIA’s governing laws, including Act 707 of 2006, Act 750 of 2008, and Legislative Instrument (LI) 211.
Speaking during the press briefing to commemorate its annual Identity Day (ID-Day) celebration at the NHIA Head Office yesterday, Mr. Deku explained that the NIA, in consultation with its legal and management teams, had reviewed these laws and submitted proposals to the Attorney-General’s Department, which responded positively.
He noted that particular attention would be given to Section 7 of LI 211, which currently outlines the presentation of the Ghana Card as proof of identity.
“We are now going to make it enforcement that you have to do biometric verification. Without biometric verification they should not be giving you access. And in fact, we are even proposing that punitive measures be applied to any institution that goes contrary to the law,” he stated.
He revealed that the NIA would begin stakeholder engagements on September 18, to secure broad consensus on the amendments before they are laid before Parliament. The enforcement, he stressed, was aimed at strengthening the credibility of national identity systems and eliminating loopholes that enable impersonation or fraud.
The Executive Secretary further disclosed that the NIA had initiated processes toward securing ISO certification, with implementation and documentation stages currently underway. Once completed, the certification will position the NIA among globally recognized institutions with guaranteed data security and service integrity.
On service delivery, Mr. Deku announced progress in registering Ghanaians across various age groups, including children aged 0–5 and 6–14. He confirmed that more than 350,000 Ghana Cards that were previously delayed for children had now been printed and dispatched to districts.
He emphasised that first-time registration for the Ghana Card at district offices remains free, cautioning citizens to report any attempt by officials to charge illegal fees. However, he explained that card replacements attract a fee of GH¢125, while updates cost GH¢60 at district centres. Premium centres, he added, charge GH¢420 for replacements and GH¢356 for updates.
Mr. Deku revealed that the NIA had cleared a backlog of 600,000 unprinted cards, reactivated all district offices, and expanded premium service centres from eight to 15 nationwide. He also outlined the rollout of online registration services, initially for first-time applicants, which allow citizens to complete applications, schedule interviews, and make payments from the comfort of their homes.
Statistics
According to him, “as of September 12, 2025, the NIA had successfully registered 18,955,360 Ghanaians, printed 18,853,779 cards, and issued 17,855,708 cards. A total of 207,322 records had been updated and 585,337 cards replaced”.
He reaffirmed that access to a recognized and verifiable identity was a fundamental human right and an essential foundation for national development.
He further stressed that without proper identification, citizens risked exclusion from critical opportunities in education, healthcare, financial services, and participation in national programmes.
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