BoG sets strict Ghana Card rule for financial transactions

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has officially made the Ghana Card the only accepted form of identification for all financial transactions across the country, with immediate effect.

According to the central bank, the new directive replaces all previous customer identification rules and introduces a stricter, mandatory verification system aimed at strengthening the security and integrity of Ghana’s financial sector.

Under the new policy, individuals who do not possess a Ghana Card — or the approved Non-Citizen or Refugee Identity Card — will no longer be allowed to carry out any financial transaction.

All banks, savings and loans companies, microfinance institutions, mobile money operators and other accountable institutions are now required to onboard customers strictly through the National Identification Authority (NIA) database. This applies to Ghanaians, permanent residents and ECOWAS nationals alike.

For digital and mobile banking platforms, the BoG has also introduced compulsory “liveness checks” for all customers. This measure is designed to curb identity theft and online fraud, especially for non face-to-face transactions.

The new rules allow third parties to deposit money into accounts that have not yet been updated with a Ghana Card. However, affected account holders will be restricted from making withdrawals until they complete the required identification update.

Banks have been granted permission to update customers’ secondary information — such as phone numbers and addresses — using NIA records. Any corrections to primary personal details, including names and dates of birth, must be done directly at NIA offices.

The BoG has provided limited exceptions for non-residents and Ghanaians living abroad. Non-residents staying in Ghana for less than 90 days may use their passports for one-time transactions like ATM withdrawals and remittances, subject to visa validation. Similarly, Ghanaians abroad who are yet to receive their Ghana Card may temporarily rely on their passports.

In situations where biometric verification fails due to technical issues or “No Match” results, the Bank has introduced a 90-day grace period for new customers to correct their records. During this period, such accounts will remain inactive until verification is successfully completed.