The Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA), Wisdom Kwaku Deku, has announced sweeping reforms aimed at deepening the use of Ghana’s national identity system, including plans to make biometric verification mandatory for all transactions.

He explained that proposed amendments before Parliament would tighten identity verification processes and eliminate reliance on visual inspection or photocopies of the Ghana Card. 

“All transactions should go through biometric verification,” he stated, warning that non-compliance would constitute an offence under the law.

Mr Deku also revealed that the Authority has resumed nationwide registration for children aged six to 14, with over 60,000 already captured in the Volta and Oti regions. 

He added that technical challenges affecting the registration of children aged zero to five have been resolved, paving the way for issuance of Ghana Card PINs at birth.

According to him, the reforms align with national development goals and international commitments, particularly the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16.9 on legal identity for all by 2030. 

“This means that a child born in Ghana can now begin life with a legal identity,” he said.

He further noted that the NIA is expanding its operational footprint through 24-hour registration centres, international missions, and stronger inter-agency integration. 

Mr Deku added that institutional reforms, including ISO certification processes and legislative amendments, are designed to strengthen security, efficiency and trust in the national identity system.