The sole use of Ghana card for bank transactions has seen minimal challenges, according to the CEO of the
Ghana Association of Banks (GAB) John Awuah.
Speaking to Citi FM monitored by The Independent Ghana, he noted that reports reaching him indicated that most customers responded positively to the implementation.
“Bank of Ghana issued a directive that effective 1st July 2022, the Ghana car will become the primary form of identification for engaging in
any banking transactions. So as an association of banks we took up the mantle and embarked on a campaign to educate the banking population that this is coming and that our customers should take steps to have the Ghana card and also to contact their banks and have their records updated. Information received thus far indicates that customers responded positively,” he told Citinews.
On Friday, July 1, 2022, all financial institutions under the central bank began the use of Ghana cards.
This comes after the Bank of Ghana (BOG) in January this year, directed all licensed and regulatory financial institutions to accept the Ghana card as the only identification card to undertake financial transactions.
Mr Awuah noted that the move is to ensure the safety of the financial ecosystem and minimize fraud related cases in the country.
Speaking to Citinews, some customers expressed satisfaction with the usage of the Ghana card for business transactions.
According to a cyber consultant, Dzaatei Mensah, “the transaction was very smooth, and I just collected my money.”
Another customer, Alice Ablorh who is a teacher, said “I did cash and check deposit and I did withdrawal too, and they asked to verify with my left tomb, and it was picked and that was all. It was within seconds.”
Despite the successful implementation of the directive, some Ghanaians who do not have the card are worried they might not be allowed to carry out
banking transactions.
Out of the 30 million population, over 16 million citizens have registered for the card, while 13 million have been issued a card according to the National
Identification Authority (NIA).
However, John Awuah says persons who have registered but have not been issued a Ghana Card, will be able to
undertake banking transactions.
He said, “If you have registered for a Ghana card and for some reason you have not been able to update your records, you don’t need to panic because
the update process is an ongoing process. It is when you have to transact that is when you must demonstrate you have the Ghana card and at that point the bank you are dealing with can update your record.
“If your card is missing or your Ghana card has not been issued yet , so long as you have registered because it is biometric, the banks have verification devices when you visit your bank, and they put your fingertips on the device, it will pop your details, so you don’t necessarily need to have a physical copy of the file.”
Source: The Independent Ghana
