The Bank of Ghana (BOG) has issued a firm directive against photocopying Ghana Cards for banking transactions.
It insisted that biometric verification must be the standard for identity authentication.
This position was reinforced during a stakeholder engagement held at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, Accra, organised by Identity Management Systems II (IMS II) Limited in collaboration with the National Identification Authority (NIA).
The event, themed ‘Protect every transaction with biometric verification’, brought together the Bank of Ghana, Ghana Association of Banks, National Identification Authority and representatives from the 25 universal banks in Ghana to discuss the critical role of identity verification in securing financial transactions.
Executive Director-IMS II Ltd., James Cantamantu-Koomson, highlighted the fundamental shift in identity management, “The way we do things is changing. Identity is at the centre and the engine of our financial system.
The database that the National Identification Authority has gathered is one of the most powerful assets we have as a country.”
His remarks underscored the need to transition from traditional manual processes to a multi-modal biometric verification approach that eliminates security vulnerabilities.
The Bank of Ghana clarified that photocopying Ghana Cards for customer verification is not acceptable.
“We have never said that banks should photocopy Ghana Cards. Photocopying leaves room for fraud and compromises the integrity of transactions.” Instead, banks must authenticate identities directly through the biometric verification system linked to the national identification database, ensuring a secure and reliable financial ecosystem,” said Ashitei Trebi-Ollennu, Deputy Head of Office under the Financial Integrity Office of BoG.
The engagement aimed to create a productive dialogue between the Bank of Ghana, the Association of Banks, the National Identification Authority and representatives of all universal banks.
Banks provided valuable feedback on how the exchange of information can be enhanced to streamline verification processes and improve efficiency.
The National Identification Authority, on the other hand, re-echoed its legal mandate.
NIA’s Head-Legal Directorate, Teresa Eson-Benjamin, said the law establishes the Ghana Card as the sole form of identification for banking transactions.
This clarification is crucial in ensuring that all financial institutions fully align with the legal framework governing identity verification in the country.
The discussions focused on biometric verification’s importance as the most secure form of authentication.
The event called for financial institutions to fully transition to biometric-based verification, ensuring that the domestic financial sector remains robust, fraud-proof and aligned with international best practices.
The engagement was attended by key figures such as John Awuah, CEO-Ghana Association of Banks (GAB); Audrey Mireku, Banking Operations, Risk and Cybersecurity; Ashitei Trebi-Ollennu, Deputy Head of Office under the Financial Integrity Office of BoG; and Naa Welbeck, Head of Supervision Unit under the Financial Integrity Office-Bank of Ghana; as well as legal, technology and biometric experts from the NIA.
Also present were executives from all the 25 universal banks in Ghana.
By the engagement’s end, there was a clear consensus: “Trust but verify” must be the guiding principle in the financial sector. The commitment to biometric authentication will not only protect transactions but also reinforce the country’s position as a leader in secure digital identity verification.
Source: thebftonline.com
