News
NIA cautions banks against relying on photocopies of Ghana cards
The National Identification Authority (NIA) is urging institutions, especially banks, to stop relying on photocopies of Ghana Cards for identity verification, describing the practice as unsafe and prone to fraud.
This was revealed by the Executive Secretary of the Authority, Mr. Yayra Koku, at a press conference to mark Identity Day at the NIA head office in Accra.
The event was held under the theme “My Identity, My Umbrella.”
Mr. Koku explained that photocopies of ID cards do not prove that the person presenting the card is the rightful owner or that they were physically present at the point of transaction.
He noted that only biometric verification, through fingerprints or facial recognition, can confirm the true identity of an individual.
He recounted cases of fraud, including an incident in which a businessman lost $1.5 million after a fake card was used because biometric verification was not carried out.
He stressed that biometric authentication also provides a timestamp, which records that the individual was present at the institution at a particular time.
The Acting Head of Legal at the NIA, Mrs. Theresa Eson-Benjamin, added that while photocopying an ID card is not a crime, it is not a process encouraged by the Authority.
She explained that photocopy-based verification has led to several cases of impersonation and identity theft reported to the police.
Mrs. Eson-Benjamin revealed that the NIA was working on amendments to its regulations to penalize institutions that fail to use biometric verification when it is available.
She urged citizens to insist on biometric checks at banks and other service providers to protect their identities and reduce the risk of fraud.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Thomas Partey, Ransford Yeboah Königsdörffer, Kojo Oppong Peprah, and Alexander Djiku trained with the Black Stars on Tuesday, March 23 as preparations intensify for the international friendly against Austria on Friday.
The newly arrived players—Partey, Königsdörffer, Oppong Peprah and Djiku—joined the group training Tuesday afternoon in readiness for the match.
Partey and Djiku bring valuable experience and dexterity to the team, having played a major role in securing Ghana a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, Canada, and the United States of America.
All 25 players participated in Tuesday’s training session, each aiming to catch the eye of head coach Otto Addo.
The full squad present at training included Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Benjamin Asare, Joseph Anang, Patrick Pfeiffer, Derrick Luckassen, Derrick Kohn, Jerome Opoku, Caleb Yirenkyi, Kojo Oppong Peprah, Jonas Adjetey, Marvin Senaya, Gideon Mensah, Elisha Owusu, Ibrahim Sulemana, Kwasi Sibo, Jordan Ayew, Prince Kwabena Adu, Christopher Bonsu Baah, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Antoine Semenyo, Kamal Deen Sulemana, Daniel Agyei, Thomas Partey, Alexander Djiku, and Ransford Yeboah Königsdörffer.
Training will continue on Wednesday and Thursday ahead of the match on Friday, March 27, 2026.
The Kadjebi District Police Command, through a sustained intelligence-led operation, has arrested a suspect, Chalim Madzaton, also known as Peter Tano, 36, a farmer.
He was apprehended at his hideout in Kpaya, a suburb of Ahamansu, in connection with the murder of 80-year-old Dakolor Semaka.
On March 24, 2026, police received a report that the suspect had allegedly attacked his girlfriend, Yaa Tugbenyo, 55, and her mother, the deceased, at their residence in Mangoase near Kadjebi During the incident, Yaa Tugbenyo managed to escape but later returned to find her mother lying motionless on the floor.
Police Officers visited the scene and found the body of the deceased lying in a supine positior with isible signs of violence.
The scene was processed, and photographs were taken for evidential purpose.
The deceased was pronounced dead by a medical officer at St. Mary Theresa Hospital and the body has since been deposited at the hospital’s morgue for preservation and autopsy.
The suspect is currently in Police custody assisting with investigations and will be arraigned before court.
