NIA warns against non-biometric ID verification, highlights Ghana Card’s 4 key benefits

The National Identification Authority (NIA) has issued a public advisory urging institutions to strictly use biometric verification when verifying identities with the Ghana Card.

The directive, in line with the National Identity Register Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2111), aims to curb identity fraud and enhance security in both public and private transactions.

According to the NIA, some institutions still rely on outdated verification methods such as lookup lists and visual inspection of Ghana Cards, which do not guarantee the accuracy of an individual’s identity as recorded in the National Identity Register (NIR).

The advisory emphasizes that biometric authentication—which involves fingerprint or facial recognition—offers real-time verification and eliminates the risks associated with forged documents, stolen IDs, and impersonation.

Why Biometric Verification Matters

The NIA highlights key reasons institutions must adopt biometric verification:

• Prevents identity theft and impersonation
• Eliminates reliance on easily forged physical documents
• Ensures real-time verification with NIR records
• Aligns with national and international security standards

Risks of Non-Biometric Verification

The advisory warns institutions that failing to use biometric verification could lead to:

• Outdated records (e.g., lost, stolen, or revoked Ghana Cards may still appear valid in lookup lists)
• Inability to detect fraudulent or tampered Ghana Cards
• Increased risk of facilitating identity fraud

The NIA has developed a state-of-the-art Identity Verification System Platform (IVSP), allowing institutions to authenticate Ghana Card holders against the National Identity Register in real time. The system ensures accurate, auditable, and time-stamped verification to strengthen public confidence in identity validation.

Institutions seeking access to the IVSP can download request forms from www.nia.gov.gh. The NIA has pledged technical support to organizations mandated to verify identities for their operations.

The NIA urges all stakeholders to prioritize secure and reliable biometric verification to safeguard Ghana’s identity management system.

The post NIA warns against non-biometric ID verification, highlights Ghana Card’s 4 key benefits first appeared on 3News.

Read Full Story