BoG prohibits banks from photocopying Ghana Cards for banking transactions

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has issued a directive instructing financial institutions to cease photocopying Ghana Cards for customer verification. Instead, banks must rely exclusively on biometric authentication to confirm customer identities.

Ensuring Secure Verification Methods

According to the central bank, relying on photocopies for identity confirmation poses significant security risks and is no longer acceptable. This directive aligns with the National Identity Register Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2111), which emphasize biometric verification as the gold standard for secure transactions.

Mr. Ashitei Trebi-Ollennu, Deputy Head of BoG’s Financial Integrity Office, stressed the importance of compliance. "We have never authorized banks to photocopy Ghana Cards for verification. Doing so increases the risk of fraud and weakens the integrity of financial transactions," he noted.

Instead, banks must verify identities using biometric authentication linked to the National Identification database, ensuring a more secure financial system.

Biometric Authentication at the Center of Financial Security

This directive was reinforced during a stakeholder forum in Accra, organized by Identity Management Systems II (IMS II) Ltd. in partnership with the National Identification Authority (NIA). The event, themed "Protect Every Transaction with Biometric Verification," brought together BoG, the Ghana Association of Banks, the NIA, and representatives from all 25 universal banks in Ghana.

During the discussions, James Cantamantu-Koomson, Executive Director of IMS II Ltd., underscored the need for a shift in identity verification methods. "Identity is the foundation of our financial system, and the database established by the National Identification Authority is one of the country’s most valuable assets," he stated.

The Advantages of Real-Time Biometric Verification

Experts at the forum highlighted several advantages of biometric verification, including:

• Preventing identity fraud and impersonation.
• Eliminating the risk of forged documents.
• Enabling real-time authentication with the National Identity Register.
• Aligning Ghana’s financial sector with global security best practices.

Collaboration for a Fraud-Resistant Financial System

The discussion also addressed ways to improve information sharing between financial institutions to streamline customer verification. Representatives from banks provided feedback on how the transition to biometric verification could be optimized for efficiency.

Legal perspectives were also discussed, with Teresa Eson-Benjamin, Head of the Legal Directorate at NIA, reaffirming the legal requirement for the Ghana Card to be the sole form of identification for banking transactions. This clarification reinforced the need for all financial institutions to align with national identity regulations.

A Collective Commitment to Digital Security

The event was attended by key industry figures, including Mr. John Awuah, CEO of the Ghana Association of Banks (GAB); Audrey Mireku, a banking operations and cybersecurity expert; and Mr. Ashitei Trebi-Ollennu from BoG’s Financial Integrity Office. Representatives from the NIA, legal professionals, and biometric security specialists were also present.

By the end of the discussions, there was unanimous agreement that biometric authentication should be the primary method for verifying identities in Ghana’s financial sector. Participants emphasized that "Trust but verify" must remain the guiding principle in safeguarding financial transactions.

With the full adoption of biometric authentication, Ghana is set to strengthen its digital identity framework, making its financial sector more secure and resilient against fraud.