File photo of a biometric system
The government has imposed an immediate moratorium on the procurement and use of independent biometric Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS) by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
This forms part of a renewed effort to streamline identity management, eliminate duplication, and enhance data security across the public sector.
The directive, issued from the Office of the President at Jubilee House and signed by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Callistus Mahama, is part of the government’s commitment to ensuring efficient resource utilisation and standardisation of biometric identification systems nationwide.
The moratorium takes effect immediately and prohibits any MDA or MMDA from procuring, developing, or operating independent biometric systems outside the framework managed by the National Identification Authority (NIA).
The directive also bans new biometric-related contracts without express presidential authorisation and requires agencies currently operating such systems to integrate with the NIA’s National Identification System within six months.
The decision, the government said, is intended to ensure the exclusive use of the NIA’s biometric infrastructure, which serves as the backbone of the National Identification System and the Ghana Card scheme.
The NIA, established by the National Identification Authority Act, 2006 (Act 707) and the National Identity Register Act, 2008 (Act 750), is mandated to register Ghanaians and legally resident foreign nationals, maintain the National Identity Register, and issue national identity cards.
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According to the directive, the proliferation of biometric systems across government institutions has led to inefficiencies, security vulnerabilities, and unnecessary costs associated with maintaining parallel databases.
The Presidency stated that the establishment of a unified national biometric system will eliminate duplication, improve interoperability, and strengthen national verification mechanisms.
The moratorium also references the Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843), which requires that all personal and biometric data collected by public institutions be secured and processed lawfully.
By centralising identity data under the NIA, the government seeks to safeguard the confidentiality, integrity, and security of citizens’ biometric information.
“All MDAs are prohibited from operating parallel biometric databases to the NIA and from verifying the identities of persons using only visual inspection of the Ghana Card without biometric authentication,” the directive stated.
It further warned that any procurement in violation of the moratorium would be deemed illegal and a direct disregard of presidential authority.
Institutions that require specialised biometric systems due to operational needs must now submit formal justification to the Office of the President for written approval.
The NIA has been tasked to provide technical support to MDAs to facilitate data harmonisation and integration into the National Identity Register and the Identity Verification System platform.
The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak has been designated to oversee implementation of the directive and to take enforcement action where necessary.
The new measure reaffirms an earlier presidential moratorium issued in June 2014 on similar grounds, which sought to prevent fragmentation in biometric data management.
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