The Africa Centre for Digital Transformation (ACDT) has issued a call to the National Identification Authority (NIA), the Bank of Ghana (BoG), and financial institutions to enable the Ghana Card to function as an ATM card.
In a press release, ACDT commended the NIA for its efforts in driving Ghana’s digital identity agenda and urged all stakeholders to collaborate in integrating the Ghana Card into financial transactions.
“The integration of the Ghana Card into banking and financial transactions, a project initiated by the previous government, will significantly enhance financial inclusion, security, and convenience for millions of Ghanaians,” the statement read.
ACDT outlined a number of key measures to achieve this objective. It stressed the importance of linking all bank accounts to the Ghana Card via a secure national database, allowing customers to carry out ATM withdrawals, transfers, and payments using the card.
To enhance security, ACDT recommended incorporating biometric authentication and PIN verification into ATM and POS systems. Users should be able to authenticate transactions using their fingerprints or a unique PIN associated with their Ghana Card.
The organization also called on banks to update their ATM infrastructure to recognize the embedded chip in the Ghana Card and encouraged retailers to adopt POS systems that support Ghana Card transactions.
Furthermore, ACDT emphasized the necessity of clear legal and security guidelines from the Bank of Ghana and financial regulators to protect users from fraud and cyber threats.
Public education was also highlighted as a critical area in the statement. ACDT urged for a nationwide campaign to educate Ghanaians on how to link their Ghana Card to their bank accounts and utilize it securely for financial transactions.
“We implore the NIA, Bank of Ghana, and all major financial institutions to expedite efforts to ensure that the Ghana Card serves as an ATM card, providing millions of Ghanaians with seamless and secure financial access,” the statement concluded.
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