The National Identification Authority (NIA) has reminded Ghanaians that photocopying the Ghana Card without lawful authorization is prohibited under the National Identity Register Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2111) and may attract severe penalties, including fines of up to GH¢24,000.
The renewed public attention follows a Facebook post by Wisdom Kwaku Deku on July 15, 2026, which highlighted the legal implications of photocopying the Ghana Card and urged citizens to comply with the regulations governing the use of the country’s official national identity document.
Speaking on the issue, the Head of the Legal Directorate of the NIA, Mrs. Teresa Eson-Benjamin, explained that the Ghana Card contains sensitive personal information and security features designed to protect the identity of every cardholder. She stressed that unauthorized photocopying could expose individuals to identity theft, fraud, and other forms of misuse.
She further emphasized that institutions requiring identity verification should use approved methods provided by the NIA instead of demanding photocopies of the Ghana Card.
The Head of Corporate Affairs of the NIA, Mr. Williams Ampomah Emmanuel, also called on both public and private institutions to strictly comply with the law. He urged organizations to educate their staff on the proper handling of the Ghana Card and to avoid practices that violate the National Identity Register Regulations.
According to the NIA, the Ghana Card remains the country’s primary proof of identity and should be handled with utmost care to preserve the integrity and security of the national identification system.
The Minister responsible for the National Identification Authority is expected to address the public in the coming days to provide further clarification on the regulations and the appropriate procedures for identity verification.
The NIA is encouraging all Ghanaians to familiarize themselves with the provisions of L.I. 2111 and comply with the law to avoid sanctions while helping to safeguard the integrity of Ghana’s National Identification System.
