The CEO of Ghana Association of Banks (GAB) has demanded urgent review of Ghana Card issuance protocols, citing widespread acquisition by non-citizens that threatens national identity integrity.
In a weekend Facebook post, he revealed “troubling signs” of groups arriving at banks via buses with Ghana Cards despite inability to speak local languages or name hometowns core verification criteria for citizens.
“The card reserved for Ghanaians is being issued inappropriately,” he warned, linking the trend to potential misconduct by “greedy NIA staff.”
He highlighted the irony of citizens struggling to obtain cards while non-citizens access them “on silver platters,” eroding trust in a system central to banking, SIM registration, passports, and tax filings.
The alert underscores severe financial sector risks: fraud syndicates reportedly exploit improperly issued cards to target Ghanaians.
“Do not let internal lapses put the whole system at risk,” the CEO urged the National Identification Authority (NIA), calling the situation a “national disaster.” He pressed for immediate process tightening to prevent identity system collapse and safeguard Ghana’s financial infrastructure.
The Ghanaian political class doesn’t understand the importance or significance of the SMART Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timebound formalization of the economy, or if they do, they are greedy, ignorant, and uninformed. Scaling smart formalization would cut down half of our challenges, while yielding a seamless electoral process, a secure credit system, a data-driven dispensation, and even relieving our overcrowded prisons. How can you formalize the Ghanaian economy without a better Records-Keeping System or a National Database, and the Ghana card, without the following on the cards?
Streets Name
Area/Zip Code
Region Name
A compulsory email address on the Ghana card.
These are low-hanging upgrades that any prudent administration can achieve.