Positioning the Ghana Card as Foundational Digital Infrastructure: From Identity to Infrastructure

The Ghana Card since its inception has been touted as the foundational digital identity for Ghana. Based on the maturity of use, I believe the Ghana Card is no longer just an identification document, it is being operationalized as core infrastructure for governance, automation, and service delivery. It reflects the state’s evolving position that identity is not merely bureaucratic, it is foundational to enabling an efficient, inclusive, and innovation-ready economy.

The current legal and institutional ecosystem supports this transformation:

“The National Identification System shall be the primary source of identification and verification of persons for the purposes of public service delivery.”
— L.I. 2111 (2012), Regulation 7(1)

“Government recognises the National Identification System as a critical enabler of Ghana’s digital economy agenda.”
— Digital Ghana Policy Framework, Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation

At the same time, the Ghana Card operates under a public–private partnership (PPP) model, where Identity Management Systems Ltd (a subsidiary of Margins Group) serves as the technology and infrastructure partner to the National Identification Authority (NIA). This partnership, which includes revenue-sharing and exclusive infrastructure rights, must be considered in any reform or policy implementation.

Even within these contractual constraints, the Ghana Card is being positioned as the spine of Ghana’s digital public infrastructure (DPI), a trusted platform on which public services (health, taxation, education), private sector onboarding (banking, SIM registration), and civic processes (voter verification, pensions) converge.

This evolution mirrors global models such as:

• India’s Aadhaar, where biometric ID underpins banking and government subsidies,
• Estonia’s e-ID, enabling full-spectrum e-governance, and
• Morocco’s MOSIP-aligned ID system, designed for scalability and interoperability.

However, while the policy direction is bold, Ghana’s full digital potential will not be realised unless structural, contractual, legislative, and operational reforms are made, including appropriate engagement with the Margins/NIA partnership. The following 10 shifts outline what must be changed, adapted, or negotiated to ensure the Ghana Card evolves into a reliable, inclusive, and globally-aligned digital infrastructure.

10 Key Shifts Needed to Make the Ghana Card Work as Foundational Digital Infrastructure

1. Enshrine the Ghana Card as National Infrastructure in Law

• Action: Update the National Identity Register Act (Act 750) to define the Ghana Card and its ecosystem as critical national infrastructure.
• Note: This legal elevation does not conflict with the Margins PPP but provides the framework to regulate it transparently.

2. Establish a Digital Identity Inter-Agency Governance Council

• Action: Create a statutory council co-led by NIA and NITA, including key regulators and private-sector observers.
• Note: IMS/Margins can be included in a technical advisory role to protect commercial interests while ensuring coordinated public oversight.

3. Mandate Interoperability Across All Public Systems

• Action: Require all government agencies (NHIS, DVLA, GRA, SSNIT) to use Ghana Card as the core identity layer.
• Note: Any interoperability requiring system integration must be negotiated with Margins, possibly under new Service-Level Agreements (SLAs).

4. Phase Out Parallel ID Systems

• Action: Develop a timeline to retire SSNIT, NHIS, and voter ID cards, transitioning to Ghana Card-linked databases.
• Note: Avoid abrupt termination; work within existing contracts to migrate gradually and protect institutional continuity.

5. Expand Rural and Offline Functionality

• Action: Work with IMS Ltd to deploy mobile biometric kits and offline verification tools, prioritizing underserved regions.
• Note: This supports the PPP model by extending card reach, and can be co-financed via donor or private-sector partnerships.

6. Develop a Regulated API and Licensing Framework

• Action: Establish a legal framework to govern how third parties access Ghana Card data via NIA-managed APIs.
• Amendment: Because Margins controls much of the technical stack, API access must be licensed under transparent, negotiated terms, with regulatory pricing oversight to avoid vendor lock-in.

7. Strengthen Data Protection and Citizen Trust

• Action: Fully operationalize the Data Protection Commission, with oversight over both public and private actors (including IMS).
• Note: Margins must operate under Ghana’s data protection regime, with clear citizen recourse and opt-out provisions.

8. Establish Fast and Fair Redress Mechanisms

• Action: Introduce accessible user support and escalation pathways for card errors or identity mismatches.
• Note: These services should be embedded in NIA operations and not solely reliant on IMS customer service capacity.

9. Institutionalise Annual Inclusion and Equity Audits

• Action: Track Ghana Card enrolment and usage across regions, income groups, and vulnerable populations.
• Note: Findings should inform targeted public outreach, with IMS contributing through their operational data.

10. Align Ghana Card with Regional and Continental Frameworks

• Action: Work with IMS and NIA to ensure Ghana Card complies with ECOWAS Biometric ID and AU Digital Identity frameworks.
• Note: This may require contractual amendments or incentive structures to ensure Margins aligns proprietary systems with open regional standards.

Summary Table (Adjusted for PPP Context)

Shift Needed	What It Does	PPP-Sensitive Adjustment
Legal Elevation	Makes system foundational by law	Strengthens NIA’s mandate within PPP
Governance Council	Ensures coordinated oversight	Include IMS as advisor, not regulator
Interoperability Mandate	Reduces duplication, increases efficiency	Negotiate SLAs for secure integration
Remove Parallel IDs	Cuts cost and confusion	Phased rollout with transition periods
Rural Access	Boosts inclusion	Supports Margins’ reach and ROI
API Licensing	Enables secure private sector use	Licensing must be regulated and fair
Data Protection	Builds citizen trust	All PPP actors subject to law
Grievance Redress	Increases system credibility	NIA-led, not outsourced
Inclusion Audits	Tracks equity and reach	Data-sharing protocols with IMS needed
Regional Alignment	Enhances global credibility	Requires contract flexibility

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