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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
The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Finance Committee and the member of parliament for Bolgatanga Central constituency, Isaac Adongo, has defended the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Asiama, describing him as the right person to manage the country’s central bank.
According to Mr. Adongo, Ghana would have faced a difficult situation if the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had not won the 2024 elections and Dr. Asiama had not been appointed governor.
Speaking in an interview with Edem Mensah-Tsotorme, Online Editor for ghanaiantimes.com.gh, Mr.Adongo said the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), including Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, only wanted to remain relevant within their party.
“Well, the NPP and Kojo Oppong Nkrumah have a job to do. They want to remain relevant in their party. I don’t begrudge them,” he said.
Mr. Adongo praised President John Dramani Mahama for appointing Dr. Asiama as Governor of the Central Bank after returning to power.
He explained that the President carefully assessed the country’s economic challenges while in opposition and chose Dr. Asiama as the best person for the role.
According to him, the governor has so far shown strong leadership at the central bank.
“I’m not saying this because I work closely with him, but sitting on the board with him, his leadership is on par,” he stated.
The lawmaker further noted that the governor understands the concerns of Ghanaians, especially regarding the rising cost of living and economic pressures.
He said government had already done the “heavy lifting” in stabilizing the economy and would now reassess some of its policies to reduce pressure on public finances.
Mr. Adongo expressed optimism that the country would not witness the same level of government expenditure from 2026 onwards.
“We’ll go back to the drawing board and consider the fiscal implications of some of the actions we have taken. I believe that from 2026, we will not see the same magnitude of expenditures,” he added.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts has clarified that it did not approve or endorse the recent Karnival Kingdom Festival held in Accra.
In a statement issued on May 7, 2026, the ministry said it did not receive any proposal, request for approval or official communication concerning the organisation of the event.
According to the ministry, it was also unaware of the processes through which the festival was allegedly approved to take place in Ghana.
“The Ministry wishes to state unequivocally that it neither endorsed, sanctioned nor authorised the staging of the event,” the statement said.
The clarification follows public criticism and discussions on social media over activities associated with the festival, including the circulation of what many described as culturally unacceptable content.
The ministry acknowledged concerns raised by sections of the public and various stakeholders regarding the conduct and nature of the event.
It explained that as the supervisory institution for the tourism, culture and creative arts sector, it expects all organisers of public festivals and entertainment events to follow established regulatory procedures and engage the relevant state institutions before holding such activities.
The ministry therefore urged organisers of tourism, cultural, entertainment and recreational events to obtain the necessary approvals before staging programmes in the country.
According to the statement, the ministry remains committed to promoting tourism and cultural activities that respect Ghana’s laws, values and cultural identity.
It added that the country’s reputation as a safe and culturally respectful destination must be protected at all times.
By: Jacob Aggrey
