Nana Dwemoh Benneh, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Universal Merchant Bank (UMB) has stated that the Ghana card is an important identification tool. He thus, disclosed that banks are working with the National Identification Authority (NIA) to begin accepting the Ghana Card as means of identification from early next year.

According to Chief Executive Officer, the use of the Ghana Card by banks in the country could transform how they [the banks] deal with their customers going forward.

“The Association of Bankers has been working with the National Identification Authority (NIA) and by early next year to start to use the Ghana Card [at the banks]. We believe it will revolutionise how we deal with our customers because it’s one card that has all that information consolidated together and effectively brings down some of the risk factors that we look at.”
Nana Dwemoh Benneh

Nana Dwemoh Benneh noted that the current digitalisation drive by the government is helping the banking sector to evolve. He added that the technological innovations has limited the risks that banks face in their transactions with customers.

“What I want to say is that there is a lot of innovation that is happening from the government and the regulator’s standpoint as well.”
Nana Dwemoh Benneh

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) highlighted some of the interventions that the Government brought into the banking industry. He expressed his excitement and hinted of UMB’s desire to partner with different institutions that will help it achieve its vision of being the digital based bank.

“So for example the Bank of Ghana has set up this sandbox which is supposed to help entrepreneurs who are involved in technology; for us, it’s music to our ears because UMB, for example, we aim to be a digital-first bank. But in doing that, we know that we have to go through collaboration and not necessarily build everything in-house.”
Nana Dwemoh Benneh

Financial Institutions Refuse to Collect Ghana Card

However, some banks in the country have been rejecting the Ghana Card as a form of identity for various transactions.

According to some financial stakeholders, the new card has not yet been put on the GVIVE system – a platform that confirms the identity of the holder, creating a database to authenticate the identity as well as control identity theft. GVIVE ID Verification system integrates with existing ID database systems for real time ID Verification.

NIA Using Ultimatums to Push All Ghanaians to Have Ghana Card

The NIA has issued series of directives, suggesting that Ghanaians without the Ghana card cannot benefit from some services. For instance, the NIA has given ultimatum for all mobile subscribers to re-register their SIM cards with the Ghana card or forfeit their SIM cards.

The Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) initially issued a directive for all government employees to register for the Ghana card or forfeit their salaries. Effective December 1, workers on the government of Ghana Payroll who have not registered with the NIA will not be paid.

However, the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) has since recinded on its decision to withhold salaries of public sector workers who do not possess the Ghana Card.

The National Identification Authority (NIA) has so far, registered over 15 million Ghanaians for the Ghana Card, representing 84.3% of the population aged 15 and above.