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Ghana · ID documents

Ghana Card national identification system

In operation Status as of 19 October 2026 · Funding type: Concession or PPP

Ghana Card is the national biometric ID card, run by the National Identification Authority under a public private partnership with Identity Management Systems 1. NIA said in 2018 that the one-year issuance phase cost USD 293 million, with the state paying USD 124 million from the consolidated fund and IMS USD 169 million, and that about USD 1.2 billion was projected over 15 years 2. The card carries an e-passport profile for ECOWAS travel 2. In March 2019 NIA rejected a Minority call for a forensic audit 1. NIA's site says L.I. 2523, requiring verification instead of photocopying, takes effect on 2 November 2026 3.

Key terms

Buyer
National Identification Authority (NIA)
Vendor
Identity Management Systems (IMS), a subsidiary of the Margins Group
Vendor based in
Not confirmed
Signed
Final approval 2018. Builds on a 2012 Foreigner Identity Management System pilot agreement between NIA and IMS
Duration
15 years
Value
USD 293 million for the one-year issuance phase: USD 124 million from the state and USD 169 million from IMS. About USD 1.2 billion projected over the 15-year life cycle (NIA, 2018)
Funding
concession/PPP
Fee model
Part of NIA revenue from use of the card is to cover operating costs and repay the partner's investment over 15 years (NIA, 2018)
Procurement route
Not published
System ownership
Public private partnership under build, maintain, operate and transfer terms (NIA, 2018). Transfer date not published
Data terms
Not published

Audits, courts, parliament and regulators

  1. 2014: The PPP committee of the Ministry of Finance gave two approvals to the feasibility study, before final approval in 2018, according to NIA 2
  2. 2018: NIA stated the costs underwent value for money audits by the Public Procurement Authority and that copies of the contract went to all 275 members of Parliament 2
  3. 5 March 2019: NIA rejected a demand by the parliamentary Minority Leader for a forensic audit of the contract and denied the cost was inflated 1
  4. Before April 2018: NIA said the contract was reviewed by the Public Procurement Authority (value for money audit), the Public Investments Division, the Attorney-General's Department, the Ministry of Finance legal unit, the PPP Approval Committee and the Economic Management Team, and approved by Cabinet. Parliament granted import duty waivers before execution 4.
  5. 5 March 2019: NIA responded to a Minority demand for a forensic audit of the contract, saying IMS receives no money from the government and later costs are covered by project proceeds over 15 years 4.
  6. January 2026: Citi Newsroom reported Margins and NIA had registered 19.2 million Ghanaians aged 15 and over 5.

Sources

  1. National Identification Authority: Cost of the Ghana Card project is $124 million, reaction to Minority Leader's demand for forensic audit (5 March 2019)
  2. Graphic Online: Ghana Card to cost $293 million in one year, NIA (2 June 2018)
  3. National Identification Authority: home page (accessed 19 October 2026)
  4. National Identification Authority: Cost of the Ghana Card project is $124 million (5 March 2019)
  5. Citi Newsroom: Margins takes Ghana's ID success to The Gambia (21 January 2026)

Fields marked "Not published" or "Not confirmed" could not be established from an official or reliable source. If you hold a document that fills a gap or corrects an entry, write to [email protected]. Last checked 19 October 2026.

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