Bank of Ghana bans photocopying Ghana Cards for banking transactions

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has issued a firm directive prohibiting the photocopying of Ghana Cards for banking transactions, emphasizing that biometric verification must be the standard method for identity authentication.

This directive aligns with the National Identity Register Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2111) and aims to eliminate outdated verification methods such as lookup lists and visual inspections, which pose security risks.

Speaking at an engagement with financial institutions, Mr. Ashitei Trebi-Ollennu, Deputy Head of the Financial Integrity Office of BoG, stressed that photocopying Ghana Cards compromises the integrity of financial transactions.

“We have never said that banks should photocopy Ghana Cards. Photocopying leaves room for fraud and weakens security,” he stated.

He further emphasized that Ghana’s National Identification Authority (NIA) database is a powerful asset and should be leveraged through biometric verification instead of manual processes that create security vulnerabilities.

The meeting brought together the Bank of Ghana, the Ghana Association of Banks, the National Identification Authority (NIA), and representatives of universal banks to discuss ways to improve identity verification processes.

Legal representatives from the NIA, including Head of Legal Directorate, Teresa Eson-Benjamin, reiterated that the Ghana Card is the sole legally recognized identification document for banking transactions.

Discussions underscored biometric verification as the most secure way to prevent fraudulent activities linked to photocopied Ghana Cards.

The BoG urged financial institutions to fully transition to biometric-based authentication to safeguard the financial system and align with international best practices.

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