Government Imposes Immediate Ban on Independent Biometric Systems, Orders Integration with NIA

October 28, 2025

The Government of Ghana has placed an immediate moratorium on the procurement and operation of independent biometric Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS) by all public institutions, directing them to integrate with the National Identification Authority's centralized system.

Sweeping Directive to Public Institutions

In a letter dated October 24, 2025, and signed by Secretary to the President Callistus Mahama, the government has prohibited all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) from maintaining parallel biometric databases outside the NIA framework.

Key Prohibitions

According to the directive, effective immediately, all MDAs and MMDAs are prohibited from:

1. Procuring, developing, or deploying independent biometric AFIS
2. Operating parallel biometric databases to the NIA
3. Verifying identities using only visual inspection of the Ghana Card without biometric verification and authentication
4. Entering into new contracts for biometric systems without express authorization from the Presidency

Legal Framework

The moratorium is anchored in existing legislation that grants the National Identification Authority exclusive mandate over biometric identification in Ghana, including:

• The National Identification Authority Act, 2006 (Act 707)
• The National Identity Register Act, 2008 (Act 750) as amended
• The National Identity Register Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2111)

These laws grant the NIA the exclusive authority over registration and issuance of national identity cards (Ghana Cards) to Ghanaian citizens both domestically and abroad, as well as legally-resident foreign nationals.

Government's Rationale

Secretary Mahama explained that the moratorium aligns with the government's commitment to three critical objectives:

1. Efficient resource utilization - Eliminating wasteful duplication of biometric infrastructure
2. Data security - Preventing fragmented databases that could compromise citizens' personal information
3. Standardization - Ensuring uniform biometric identification systems across the public sector

Six-Month Integration Deadline

In what may prove to be the most challenging aspect of the directive, existing MDAs and MMDAs currently operating independent biometric AFIS systems have been given a strict deadline:

All independent systems must be integrated with the National Identification System within six (6) months from October 24, 2025.

This means that by April 24, 2026, all public institutions must have discontinued their standalone biometric systems and transitioned to the NIA's centralized platform.

Exception Process for Specialized Needs

The government has provided a narrow pathway for institutions with unique operational requirements. Any MDA or MMDA requiring a specialized biometric system must:

• Submit detailed justification to the Office of the President
• Obtain written approval from the Presidency before proceeding

Consequences of Non-Compliance

The directive includes strong language warning against violations. Secretary Mahama stated unequivocally:

"Any non-compliant procurement shall be deemed illegal and a blatant disregard of this directive."

This warning suggests that procurement officers and institutional heads who proceed with unauthorized biometric systems could face legal consequences.

Background: The Proliferation Problem

The directive comes amid concerns about the proliferation of independent biometric systems across Ghana's public sector. In recent years, various government agencies have developed their own fingerprint and biometric identification systems for specific purposes, including:

• Security agencies for law enforcement
• Immigration services
• Electoral commission for voter registration
• Financial institutions for KYC compliance
• Health facilities for patient records

This fragmentation has led to several problems:

• Duplicated costs - Multiple agencies purchasing similar technology
• Data silos - Information not shared across agencies
• Security vulnerabilities - Multiple databases increase risk of breaches
• Inefficiency - Citizens required to register biometric data multiple times

Implementation Challenges

While the directive aims to streamline biometric identification, implementation may face several hurdles:

Technical Challenges:

• Integrating diverse systems with different technical specifications
• Ensuring data migration without loss or corruption
• Maintaining service continuity during transition

Operational Concerns:

• Training staff on the centralized NIA system
• Addressing specialized agency needs within a standardized framework
• Managing the costs of system integration

Security Issues:

• Ensuring the NIA system can handle increased load from multiple agencies
• Protecting centralized data from potential breaches
• Maintaining appropriate access controls for different agencies

Impact on Public Services

The moratorium is expected to have wide-ranging impacts:

Short-term disruptions may occur as agencies transition from independent systems to the NIA platform, potentially affecting service delivery in sectors like banking, healthcare, and law enforcement.

Long-term benefits could include more efficient identity verification, reduced government spending on duplicate systems, and better data security through centralized management.

Regional and International Context

Ghana's move toward centralized biometric identification reflects a broader trend across Africa and globally. Countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and India have implemented similar national ID systems with varying degrees of success.

However, centralized biometric databases have also raised privacy concerns in many jurisdictions, with critics warning about potential government surveillance and data misuse.

NIA's Capacity Questions

The directive places significant responsibility on the National Identification Authority to:

• Accommodate multiple government agencies on its platform
• Provide reliable, real-time verification services
• Maintain robust security against cyber threats
• Offer technical support to diverse institutions

Questions remain about whether the NIA has adequate infrastructure, personnel, and resources to handle this expanded mandate within the six-month timeline.

Private Sector Implications

While the directive specifically targets MDAs and MMDAs, it may have implications for private sector entities that provide services to or partner with government agencies. Companies that have sold biometric systems to government bodies may need to pivot their business models.

Next Steps

Government agencies and local authorities must now:

1. Conduct audits of existing biometric systems
2. Develop integration plans with NIA timelines
3. Budget for transition costs in upcoming fiscal planning
4. Train personnel on the centralized system
5. Seek exceptions if specialized systems are truly necessary

Parliamentary and Public Response

As of publication, there has been no official response from Parliament or civil society organizations regarding the directive. However, discussions are expected around:

• Data privacy protections in a centralized system
• Oversight mechanisms for the NIA's expanded role
• Budgetary implications of the mandated integration
• Timeline feasibility for complex technical transitions

What This Means

Ghana is moving toward a unified national biometric identification system under the NIA's control, ending the era of multiple, independent fingerprint databases across government. While aimed at efficiency and security, the transition poses significant technical and operational challenges for public institutions over the next six months.

Deadline to Watch

April 24, 2026 - when all public institutions must complete integration with the NIA system.