The National Identification Authority (NIA) card also known as the Ghana Card ostensibly is a blessing that has come our way as citizens. It has simplified lives when it comes to the facilitation of a lot of transactions, electronic or not as well as travelling to and from some countries.

However, like many good things in one’s life, counter problems and inconveniences may arise with official uses of the Ghana Card. That is one warning being sounded and which citizens must take note of.

In the week, one has been reminded of one potential risk out there by fraudsters and those who are always looking for loopholes to exploit to the disadvantage of innocent ones. The warning, coming from the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Margins ID Group and which some of us think is very timely, at a time when scams are manifesting in several forms, is worth noting.

The CEO drew attention to the fact that improper use of the Ghana Card, including photocopying or the sharing of digital copies could be an aide for fraudsters to dupe innocent card holders. This potential risk of exposing card owners to identity fraud would not manifest for as long as user Agencies follow the NIA guidelines.

Guidelines

According to the expert therefore, Agencies mandated to receive Ghana Cards as a form of authentication must be familiar with the guidelines of the NIA to protect the identity of their customers or owners of the card when they do business with them.

The NIA Regulations, 2012, L.I. 2111 7(a) makes it mandatory for a national identity card to be used for transactions such as the issuance of a passport, driver's licence, opening of individual or personal bank accounts, purchase of insurance policies, registration of voters, SIM cards, pensions and many others.

Further to that, Regulation 8(i) on the production of National Insurance cards makes it clear, stating that the Authority, user Agencies and a person authorised by law or a law enforcer may request an individual issued with a Ghana Card to produce the card for inspection. However, the card shall be returned to the individual immediately unless there is reasonable suspicion of an offence.

The guideline further explains that the authenticity of a national identification card can be ascertained by a user agency with the use of a portable ID card reader. In the absence of an ID card reader, authentication could further be done by scanning the individual’s fingerprints. 

Risk

It is as straightforward as that so the use of photocopying or sharing electronic copies does not come in here.  One wonders therefore why banks, for example, are taking the liberty to photocopy customers’ ID cards when one calls at the banking hall to withdraw monies. Yet one can withdraw cash from automated cash machines without any request for an ID card.

What makes it even baffling and seen as information overload is that some of the banks additionally take fingerprints on top of photocopying the ID card, something not sanctioned by the NIA’s guidelines in the use of the NIA card.

At a bank I visited recently, I noticed a customer’s Ghana card had been openly displayed in the glass cage of a bank teller. The reason? The person forgot to wait for his card after the photocopying and left in a hurry with his cash.

The bigger risk is having the card publicly displayed, but then I thought maybe the person is not a customer and so the display was for anyone who might know him to perhaps alert him.

Another risk one sees around a lot, is scanning or photocopying the NIA card in public communication centres where others go for all kinds of communication services. One is never sure who is looking over whose shoulders or what goes on during photocopying and scanning.

In an age of increasing internet fraud and where everyone is being advised to be careful with putting their personal information out there, something the banks themselves religiously caution their customers about, if there are other options for verification, why are customers being subjected to a form of identification not prescribed by the regulator, NIA?

Is it another case of failure in our system where one fails to adhere to enforcement?  Where rules and laws are laid out beautifully on paper for reasons of health or safety yet, there is a reluctance to execute it?

Or, is it a case of attitude where those expected to know better could not care less and instead try to find easy ways out or cut corners as is convenient and less costly to them? The comfort of the receiver is of less consequence to them. 

If well and truly improper use of the Ghana card can endanger the identity of card holders, then one can only plead with the NIA to take user Agencies through their guidelines by way of continuous education. 

Putting a monitoring or inspection team in place to monitor banks could also be a good idea.  Fighting fraudsters should be done with a holistic approach.

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Writer’s email: vickywirekoandoh@yahoo.com