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Sunday, 9 August 2026
Ghana’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Sunday, 9 August 2026
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Ghanaian press · Organization

National Identification Authority

Also known as: NIA

National Identification Authority — manages Ghana Card issuance, biometric verification systems, and registration exercises across Ghana and diaspora communities.

2026-04-282026-08-09

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. June 2026
  2. Joy Online

    The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has disclosed that more than 200,000 eligible children in the Volta Region are yet to be registered under the ongoing National Identification Authority (NIA) mass registration exercise for children aged six to 14 years.

    Over 200,000 children yet to be captured in Volta NIA registration exercise – Interior Minister
  3. Joy Online

    The Minister noted that the region remained strategically important due to its numerous border crossing points and ongoing national programmes, including the National Identification Authority (NIA) mass registration exercise targeting children between six and 14 years.

    Interior Minister begins two-day working visit to Volta Region
  4. May 2026
  5. The Chronicle

    The Council, in collaborating with the National Identification Authority, was working to solve identity verification challenges that limit financial inclusion and effective regulation.

    FSC intensifies reforms to strengthen Ghana’s financial system
  6. Joy Online

    Speaking at the 20th Anniversary launch of the National Identification Authority in Accra, the Interior Minister said, the Ghana Card, the nation’s digital biometric identity system, has transformed beyond an identification document to a critical tool for national development in

    Ghana Card is a critical national asset – Interior Minister
  7. Joy Online

    The National Identification Authority (NIA) has marked 20 years of its operations, with the government highlighting the Ghana Card as a central gateway to accessing key public and private services, including finance, healthcare, telecommunications, and other essential national sy

    Ghana Card is gateway to national services – Interior Minister as NIA marks 20 years in operation
  8. Joy Online

    The Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA), Wisdom Kwaku Deku, has announced major reforms aimed at deepening the use of Ghana’s national identity system, including plans to make biometric verification mandatory for all transactions.

    NIA pushes mandatory biometric verification as digital identity reforms expand
  9. Joy Online

    NIA clears 640,000 card backlog, expands nationwide and Diaspora operations The National Identification Authority (NIA) says it has successfully cleared a backlog of over 640,000 Ghana Cards and significantly expanded its service delivery infrastructure both locally and abroad.

    NIA clears 640,000 card backlog, expands nationwide and Diaspora operations
  10. Joy Online

    The Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA), Wisdom Kwaku Deku, has stated that the Ghana Card has significantly improved identity verification and inclusion across the country, while gaining international recognition within the ECOWAS sub-region and be

    Ghana Card accepted at over 44,000 airports worldwide as a mode of identification – NIA boss
  11. Joy Online

    Margins ID Group has congratulated the National Identification Authority (NIA) on the occasion of the latter’s 20th anniversary.

    Margins Group celebrates NIA@20
  12. Business & Financial Times

    The Ghana Card ecosystem operates through a public-private partnership between the National Identification Authority and Margins ID Group through its subsidiary, Identity Management Systems II.

    Ghana’s identity system among world’s best — Moses Baiden
Politics

Ghana Card biometric verification now mandatory for identity checks

The News

The Interior Minister announced that biometric verification of the Ghana Card is now the mandatory standard for identity verification in Ghana, replacing visual inspection and photocopying. The requirement was introduced under Legislative Instrument 2523 and came into force on June 9, 2026, with the aim of protecting personal data, strengthening the national identification system, and reducing identity theft and fraud.

24 July 2026 · Joy Online

Friday 24 July

  1. Ghana Card biometric verification now mandatory for identity checks

    The Interior Minister announced that biometric verification of the Ghana Card is now the mandatory standard for identity verification in Ghana, replacing visual inspection and photocopying. The requirement was introduced under Legislative Instrument 2523 and came into force on June 9, 2026, with the aim of protecting personal data, strengthening the national identification system, and reducing identity theft and fraud.

    24 July 2026 · Joy Online

Thursday 23 July

  1. Ghana mandates biometric ID verification over photocopied cards

    The government has given banks, telecommunications companies, hospitals, schools, insurance firms and other institutions until November 2, 2026, to stop requesting photocopies of Ghana Cards and adopt biometric authentication through the National Identification Authority's Identity Verification System. The new regulations are intended to reduce identity theft and protect personal data by making biometric verification the standard method for identity confirmation.

    23 July 2026 · Joy Online

  2. NIA launches 24-hour Ghana Card services at prestige centres

    The National Identification Authority says it is expanding operations to provide 24-hour Ghana Card services, with new prestige centres launching next week and about 120 additional staff employed to operate on a three-shift system, aimed at serving people unable to visit offices during regular working hours.

    23 July 2026 · Joy Online

Wednesday 22 July

  1. Ghana Card biometric verification now mandatory under new regulations

    The Interior Minister announced implementation of the National Identity Register (Amendment) Regulations, 2026, making biometric verification compulsory for confirming Ghana Card holder identity. Organisations must use the National Identification Authority's biometric verification system or approved match-on-card devices, and are prohibited from retaining photocopies or scanned images; non-compliance could result in financial penalties or suspension of access to the Identity Verification System Platform.

    22 July 2026 · Joy Online

  2. NSA portal fails to process cloth subscription opt-outs

    Thousands of National Service Personnel report that clicking "Cancel" on the NSA's online portal failed to process their requests to opt out of National Service Personnel Association cloth subscriptions, leaving them enrolled with continuing deductions. Some personnel say they did not subscribe and claim the cloth is useless.

    22 July 2026 · Joy Online

Friday 17 July

  1. Minority MPs walk out over First Deputy Speaker ruling

    The Minority Caucus staged a parliamentary walkout after the First Deputy Speaker disallowed a supplementary question from the Minority Leader about the cost of a planned biometric SIM registration exercise, with the Minority accusing the Chair of using Standing Orders to stifle parliamentary oversight.

    17 July 2026 · Daily Guide

  2. Minority walks out over deputy speaker's ruling on question

    The Minority Caucus staged a walkout in Parliament on Wednesday after the First Deputy Speaker disallowed a supplementary question from the Minority Leader about the cost of a planned nationwide biometric SIM registration exercise, citing Standing Orders. The Minority Leader accused the First Deputy Speaker of repeatedly using parliamentary rules to stifle opposition scrutiny and undermine Parliament's oversight responsibility.

    17 July 2026 · Daily Guide

Wednesday 15 July

  1. Biometric verification now mandatory for Ghana Card transactions

    The National Identification Authority has announced that photocopying or visual inspection of the Ghana Card for transactions is now illegal, with biometric verification made mandatory under an amended National Identity Register Regulations. Organisations that fail to comply face fines of at least 500 penalty units and up to 2,000 units on summary conviction; individuals face 50 to 500 penalty units.

    15 July 2026 · Joy Online

Tuesday 14 July

  1. VP calls for public education on law enforcement, rule of law

    Vice President Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has urged intensified public education on law enforcement to strengthen public trust and voluntary compliance with the law. She stressed that greater understanding of security agencies' mandates and the purpose of laws is essential for effective governance and national development.

    14 July 2026 · Joy Online

Thursday 9 July

  1. NIA, IOM start Ghana Card registration in border communities July 13

    The National Identification Authority and the International Organisation for Migration will conduct a special Ghana Card registration exercise for eligible Ghanaians aged six and above in selected communities along the Ghana-Burkina Faso border from July 13 to August 6, 2026, covering districts in the Upper West and Upper East Regions.

    9 July 2026 · Joy Online

Tuesday 7 July

  1. NIA outlines four-step Ghana Card process for diaspora

    The National Identification Authority has launched a four-step process for Ghanaians abroad to obtain the Ghana Card: online application and fee payment (US$115 for those in the UK and outside Africa), virtual interview, biometric capture at the nearest Ghana Mission, and card issuance. A special pop-up registration is scheduled for August 1, 2026, in London.

    7 July 2026 · Joy Online

Monday 29 June

  1. UMB visits President Mahama with Father's Day artwork gift

    Universal Merchant Bank marked Father's Day with a courtesy call on President John Dramani Mahama, during which Managing Director Dr. Philip Oti-Mensah presented the President with commemorative artwork symbolizing fatherhood, leadership, responsibility and service. President Mahama congratulated the bank on its progress and commended management and staff for strengthening the institution and enhancing its contribution to Ghana's financial services sector.

    29 June 2026 · Business & Financial Times

Friday 26 June

  1. UMB marks Father's Day with courtesy call on President Mahama

    Universal Merchant Bank visited President John Dramani Mahama on Father's Day and presented him with commemorative artwork symbolizing fatherhood, leadership, responsibility and service. President Mahama commended the bank on its progress and efforts in strengthening Ghana's financial services sector.

    26 June 2026 · Joy Online

Thursday 25 June

  1. Man jailed 30 days for impersonating NIA officer, defrauding Ghana Card applicants

    Fidelis Samuel Mensah was sentenced to 30 days' imprisonment by the Gbese District Court after being convicted of posing as a National Identification Authority employee and fraudulently obtaining cash, mobile phones, and personal documents from Ghana Card applicants. The NIA has warned the public to deal only with authorised officials at designated service points.

    25 June 2026 · Joy Online

Tuesday 23 June

  1. Abu Dhabi commits AED 13 billion to AI-native government by 2027

    Abu Dhabi has committed approximately AED 13 billion (US$3.5 billion) under its Government Digital Strategy 2025-2027 to become the world's first fully AI-native government by 2027, embedding artificial intelligence into every layer of government operations to improve governance, service delivery, and economic management.

    23 June 2026 · Business & Financial Times

  2. Ghana's informal sector employs 80% but pays minimal tax

    Ghana's informal sector, which employs approximately 80 percent of the national workforce and accounts for an estimated 27 percent to 40 percent of GDP, contributes less than 5 percent of total tax revenue. The Ghana Statistical Service reports that 92.3 percent of all businesses in Ghana are informal, placing a disproportionate tax burden on the formal sector.

    23 June 2026 · Business & Financial Times

  3. CARE Ghana urges Ghana Card as sole voting ID

    CARE Ghana has called for the Ghana Card to replace the voter identification card as the sole ID for voting in all public elections and referenda, citing resource duplication, inefficiencies, and financial costs in maintaining separate systems.

    23 June 2026 · Joy Online

Friday 12 June

  1. NIA begins Ghana Card registration for children aged 6–14 in Northern Region

    The National Identification Authority has started Ghana Card registration for children aged 6–14 years in the Northern Region, in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Authority. Registration teams will visit schools daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and children not in school can register at designated centres.

    12 June 2026 · Joy Online

Thursday 11 June

  1. Police close fraud probe into Niharika Handa, son

    Ghana Police have concluded an investigation into allegations that businesswoman Niharika Handa and her son Punarvasu Handa obtained Ghanaian travel documents through false declarations, finding no evidence of wrongdoing. Both are Indian nationals who acquired Ghanaian citizenship through naturalisation in 2022 and 2023 respectively.

    11 June 2026 · Joy Online

Friday 5 June

  1. NIA launches month-long registration for children in Volta, Oti

    The National Identification Authority has begun a one-month mop-up registration exercise for Ghanaian children aged 6–14 years in selected districts across Volta and Oti regions, running from June 4 to July 3, 2026, to allow those who missed the initial phase to obtain national identification records.

    5 June 2026 · Joy Online

Tuesday 2 June

  1. Volta Region: 200,000 children not yet registered for NIA

    The Interior Minister disclosed that over 200,000 eligible children in the Volta Region remain unregistered in the National Identification Authority's mass registration exercise for children aged six to 14 years, after 108,000 were registered in a three-week initial phase against a target of 300,000. The government plans to conduct mop-up and additional registration exercises to ensure coverage of eligible children.

    2 June 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Interior Minister visits Volta Region to assess security, engage stakeholders

    The Minister of Interior is on a two-day working visit to the Volta Region to assess security operations and engage with stakeholders and security personnel. The Minister said periodic regional visits help government officials understand ground-level challenges and make informed decisions on policy and resource allocation.

    2 June 2026 · Joy Online

Monday 25 May

  1. FSC steps up reforms to stabilize Ghana's financial system

    The Financial Stability Council has intensified reforms aimed at reducing risks and strengthening Ghana's financial sector through increased regulatory cooperation, technical team training, and new monitoring systems for virtual assets. The FSC is also preparing for Ghana's third Mutual Evaluation by GIABA to strengthen financial security measures against money laundering and terrorism financing.

    25 May 2026 · The Chronicle

Sunday 24 May

  1. Modified Taxation System aims to include informal sector operators

    Ghana's Modified Taxation System is a simplified tax regime introduced by the Ghana Revenue Authority to bring small and medium-sized enterprises and informal sector operators into the formal tax system, addressing barriers such as complex filing processes and limited access to tax offices that have historically excluded a significant portion of the economy.

    24 May 2026 · Joy Online

Saturday 23 May

  1. Interior Minister hails Ghana Card as critical national asset

    Interior Minister Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak has described the Ghana Card as a critical asset to national development, saying it underpins national security, governance, and economic participation while serving as a gateway to finance, healthcare, telecommunications, and public services.

    23 May 2026 · Joy Online

  2. NIA marks 20 years; Ghana Card enables public services access

    The National Identification Authority has celebrated 20 years of operation, with the Interior Minister describing the Ghana Card as a central gateway to accessing finance, healthcare, telecommunications, and other national services. The government outlined priorities including universal enrolment coverage, strengthened data protection, and deepened innovation in identity services.

    23 May 2026 · Joy Online

Friday 22 May

  1. NIA plans mandatory biometric verification for all transactions

    The National Identification Authority has announced reforms to deepen Ghana's national identity system, including proposed amendments before Parliament to make biometric verification mandatory for all transactions. The NIA has also resumed nationwide child registration and resolved technical challenges affecting registration of children aged zero to five, aligning with the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 16.9.

    22 May 2026 · Joy Online

  2. NIA clears 640,000 Ghana Card backlog, expands abroad

    The National Identification Authority has resolved a backlog of over 640,000 Ghana Cards through supply of blank cards to district offices, with successful printing and distribution completed by September 2025. The authority is now operating in 11 Ghana Missions abroad and plans further expansion to Spain, the United Arab Emirates, China, South Korea, Côte d'Ivoire, and Nigeria.

    22 May 2026 · Joy Online

  3. Ghana Card accepted at 44,000 airports worldwide, NIA says

    The National Identification Authority Executive Secretary says the Ghana Card is recognised as a valid travel document within ECOWAS and accepted at more than 44,000 airports globally. The NIA has registered over 19.4 million Ghanaians aged 15 and above and issued over 18.7 million Ghana Cards.

    22 May 2026 · Joy Online

Thursday 21 May

  1. Margins Group marks National Identification Authority's 20th anniversary

    Margins ID Group has congratulated the National Identification Authority on its 20th anniversary, stating the two bodies have worked together to strengthen identity, trust, and national development in Ghana through their public-private partnership delivering the national identification system.

    21 May 2026 · Joy Online

National Identification Authority — Ghanaian press coverage · Ghana Minute