The head of Corporate Affairs, Williams Ampomah Emmanuel Darlas at the National Identification Authority (NIA) has urged the Ghanaian public not to allow any institution to make a photocopy of their Ghana card.
Williams Ampomah Emmanuel Darlas urged financial institutions particularly banks to stop photocopying Ghana Cards but rather use the NIA’s verification platform.
Speaking during the press conference Williams Ampomah Emmanuel Darlas stated, “I want to use this to appeal to the banks that are still doing physical verification of the Ghana Card to stop. You go to the bank, and they just pick the Ghana Card, look at it, look at your face, and say, ‘Okay, you are the one.’ That is not how it’s supposed to be.
“We are appealing to them that they should get onboard the NIA verification system so that they get the data to do biometric verification of applicants that come to the bank to execute business”.
He added, “That way, it will help us to eradicate fraudsters from the system”.
“We are also entreating the general public to resist any attempts to get photocopies of their cards. When that is done, it will force the banks to do the right thing,” he said.
Some Ghanaians have reacted to the news by saying, “This is simply a revenue strategy. Banks are charged by the NIA each time they verify a Ghana Card, so institutions prefer to keep copies to avoid repeated verification fees. It’s not about protecting the cardholder’s interest — it’s about boosting the NIA’s IGF”.
Another stated, “@GCBBankPLC your staff took my personal details and photos of my Ghana card at the passport office Accra in the name of opening an account for mw. It’s been 10 days no email or text has been sent. Have I put my personal information into the wrong hands?”
One X user also added, “As good as this news is, shouldn’t the NIA sent a notice to institutions that demand that?
Copies of Ghana card has been requested in:
School admissions, bank transactions, job documentation, etc. These institutions need cautioning”.
Additionally, a netizen also stated, “About 6 banks have a copy of my Ghana card, why are we now knowing this? And how are they supposed to do the verification? Funny enough we take pictures of it during online verifications”.
See the post below:
— KALYJAY (@gyaigyimii) June 18, 2025
