The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has issued a decisive directive prohibiting the use of photocopied Ghana Cards for banking transactions, mandating biometric verification as the exclusive method for customer identification. This directive reinforces the National Identity Register Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2111) and addresses the escalating risks associated with outdated verification practices, such as visual inspections and lookup lists, which are susceptible to fraud and compromise the integrity of financial transactions. This move underscores the BoG’s commitment to strengthening the security and reliability of Ghana’s financial ecosystem. Mr. Ashitei Trebi-Ollennu, Deputy Head of Office under the Financial Integrity Office of BoG, explicitly stated that photocopying Ghana Cards has never been an approved practice, emphasizing the inherent vulnerability of photocopies to fraudulent manipulation. Instead, banks are required to utilize the biometric verification system linked to the National Identification database, offering a robust and secure method of confirming identities.
This directive was further solidified during a stakeholder engagement in Accra, organized by Identity Management Systems II (IMS II) Ltd. in partnership with the National Identification Authority (NIA). Themed “Protect Every Transaction with Biometric Verification,” the event brought together key stakeholders, including the BoG, the Ghana Association of Banks (GAB), the NIA, and representatives from all 25 universal banks in Ghana. The primary focus was the crucial role of biometric verification in safeguarding financial transactions and bolstering the overall security of the banking sector. The collaborative nature of the event facilitated open dialogue and information sharing, paving the way for a more secure and efficient financial system. The discussions emphasized the importance of transitioning from traditional, manual processes to a more sophisticated, multi-modal biometric verification approach.
Real-time biometric verification offers significant advantages, including the prevention of identity theft and impersonation, elimination of reliance on easily forged physical documents, real-time authentication against the National Identity Register (NIR) records, and alignment with national and international security standards. This method ensures that the individual presenting the Ghana Card is indeed the legitimate owner and not someone using a fraudulent copy. This proactive approach significantly reduces the risks associated with identity fraud, protecting both financial institutions and customers.
James Cantamantu-Koomson, Executive Director of IMS II Ltd., emphasized the paradigm shift in identity management, highlighting the central role of identity in the financial system. He described the NIA’s database as a powerful national asset, underscoring the necessity of embracing modern biometric technologies to enhance security and efficiency. This transition reflects a broader global movement towards digital identification and authentication, recognizing the vulnerabilities of traditional methods in an increasingly digital world. The adoption of biometric verification is not merely a technological upgrade but a strategic move to safeguard the integrity of the financial system.
The stakeholder engagement fostered valuable dialogue and collaboration between the various participants. Banks provided crucial feedback on improving information exchange to streamline verification processes and enhance overall efficiency. The NIA reiterated its legal mandate, with Teresa Eson-Benjamin, Head of the Legal Directorate, emphasizing the law that establishes the Ghana Card as the sole acceptable form of identification for banking transactions. This clarification ensures that all financial institutions operate within the established legal framework, promoting uniformity and compliance across the sector. The collaborative spirit of the event fostered a shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities surrounding identity verification, leading to a collective commitment to enhancing security measures.
The discussions underscored the significance of biometric verification as the most secure form of authentication, effectively mitigating fraudulent activities associated with photocopied Ghana Cards. The event served as a call to action for all financial institutions to fully embrace biometric-based verification. This transition is crucial for ensuring the robustness, fraud resilience, and alignment of Ghana’s financial sector with international best practices. The presence of key figures, including Mr. John Awuah, CEO of GAB; Audrey Mireku, representing Banking Operations, Risk & Cybersecurity; Mr. Ashitei Trebi-Ollennu, Deputy Head of Office under the Financial Integrity Office of BoG; and Ms. Naa Welbeck, Head of Supervision Unit under the Financial Integrity Office of BoG, further emphasized the importance of this initiative. Their participation, along with legal, technology, and biometric experts from the NIA and executives from all 25 universal banks, demonstrated a unified commitment to strengthening the security of Ghana’s financial system. The engagement culminated in a shared understanding of the importance of biometric verification, adopting “trust but verify” as the guiding principle for the financial sector. This commitment to robust authentication not only protects financial transactions but also strengthens Ghana’s standing as a leader in secure digital identity verification.
