The Office of the President has issued a sweeping directive imposing an immediate moratorium on the procurement and use of independent Biometric Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS) by all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as well as Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
The directive, dated October 24, 2025 and signed by the Secretary to the President, Callistus Mahama, Ph.D. , mandates the standardisation of biometric identification across all state entities under the National Identification Authority (NIA).
The move is aimed at strengthening national identification mechanisms, ensuring data security, and achieving greater efficiency in resource utilisation.
Core Objectives and Legal Basis
The Presidency stated that the move is crucial to eliminate duplication, enhance data interoperability, and reduce the considerable costs associated with maintaining multiple parallel biometric databases across the public sector.
The directive is issued pursuant to several key laws, affirming the NIA’s exclusive mandate over the registration and issuance of the national identity card, the Ghana Card.
The legal foundations include:
- The National Identification Authority Act, 2006 (Act 707) and the National Identity Register Act, 2008 (Act 750).
- The Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843), which ensures the integrity and security of citizens’ biometric data.
- A pre-existing moratorium on the acquisition of AFIS by MDAs, issued by the Office of the President in June 2014.
The government asserts that a robust biometric AFIS has already been established under the NIA’s National Identification System.
Key Prohibitions and Deadlines
The moratorium, which took immediate effect, prohibits MDAs and MMDAs from several activities:
- Procurement and Deployment: MDAs are forbidden from procuring, developing, or deploying any new independent biometric AFIS.
- Parallel Databases: Agencies are prohibited from operating any biometric databases that run parallel to the NIA’s system.
- Identity Verification: Entities are explicitly barred from verifying identities using only the ocular inspection (visual check) of the Ghana Card without using the NIA’s biometric verification and authentication system.
- New Contracts: Agencies cannot enter into any new contracts for the procurement of biometric systems without the express written authorization of the Presidency.
MDAs currently operating independent biometric AFIS have been given a strict deadline of six (6) months from the date of the directive to integrate their existing systems with the NIA’s National Identification System.
The NIA is tasked with providing the necessary technical support to facilitate this data harmonisation and integration.
Any non-compliant procurement moving forward “shall be deemed illegal and a blatant disregard of this directive”.
Agencies with unique operational needs requiring a specialised biometric system must first submit a justification and obtain written approval directly from the Office of the President.
Oversight and Enforcement
The document specifies that the Minister for the Interior shall oversee the implementation of this moratorium and is tasked with taking the necessary enforcement actions against any non-compliant MDAs or MMDAs.
The directive applies to all MDAs at the national and subnational levels, including state corporations and regulatory agencies.
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