The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has issued a revised Supervisory Guidance Note on the use of the Ghana Card in banking and digital financial transactions across the country. In a 19-page document shared on January 8, the central bank announced the Ghana Card as the primary and, in most cases, sole form of identification for financial transactions nationwide.

The new directives replace the June 2022 guidance, which introduced the Ghana Card as the primary ID for financial transactions. The October/November 2025 revision, however, makes the Ghana Card mandatory and exclusive, requiring biometric verification through the National Identification Authority (NIA) database and removing alternative identification options. The 2025 directive takes immediate effect, fully replacing the 2022 framework.

BoG noted that, “This Guidance Note provides clarity to Bank of Ghana Notice Number BG/GOV/SEC/2025/36, issued 13th November 2025, and aims to ensure compliance with Know Your Customer (KYC) and Customer Due Diligence (CDD) requirements. This revised Supervisory Guidance Note on the use of the Ghana Card for Accountable Institutions, October 2025, comes into effect from the date of issue and replaces the Supervisory Guidance Note on the use of the Ghana Card for Accountable Institutions, June 2022.”

Under the new directive, Accountable Institutions (AIs) are required to use only the Ghana Card to identify and verify all customers, including Ghanaian citizens living in Ghana and abroad, permanent residents, and ECOWAS nationals who are residents during onboarding. Foreign directors, shareholders, and non-residents who are signatories to accounts must also be verified using the Ghana Card. Institutions are required to verify customers biometrically using features embedded in the card and to update records directly from the NIA database. Any discrepancies in customer information must be handled carefully: primary data, such as name, date of birth, and nationality, must be corrected at the NIA, while secondary data, including phone numbers and addresses, may be updated through institutional procedures.

The guidance also imposes stricter rules for mobile and internet banking, citing heightened risks of money laundering and terrorist financing. Financial institutions are no longer permitted to use a risk-based approach for identification at the onboarding stage and must conduct full biometric verification, including liveness checks, for all digital onboarding processes.

BoG emphasized that, “Given the inherent Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing, and Proliferation Financing (ML/TF/PF) risks associated with non-face-to-face technologies, identification and verification shall not be risk-based. AIs, during the onboarding of new customers on mobile banking applications and internet banking platforms, shall verify the identity of the customer using the Ghana Card, Non-Citizen Identity Card, or Refugee Identity Card in the case of non-Ghanaians, utilise a liveness check to biometrically verify the customer, collect all applicable KYC/CDD/EDD information in line with AML/CFT/CPF laws, and update customer KYC data using information from the National Identity Authority.”

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For existing customers and foreign nationals, banks are mandated to verify and update customer information using NIA data and biometrics. Customers without a valid national or refugee ID cannot conduct transactions. Those without a Ghana Card or an approved alternative identification for non-citizens and refugees are barred from all financial transactions. Short-term foreign visitors are only permitted to conduct limited transactions, with banks required to verify passports, collect risk-based information, and maintain detailed records of these transactions.

Bank of Ghana (BoG) released a revised set of rules for the fast emergence of International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs), who, through partnerships with licensed payment service providers and banks, play a critical role in facilitating the smooth and secure the flow of funds into Ghana.

In a 16-page document shared on Friday, January 2, the central bank outlined new rules to “foster a secure and enabling environment for remittance services ” in Ghana.

The document outlines a set of guidelines on legality, transparency, accountability, consumer protection, and robust data security for all remittance services for IMTOs in Ghana.

The guidelines include, “Legality and Enforceability where all IMTO activities must comply with relevant laws, directives and notices as prescribed by the Bank of Ghana. Transparency: An IMTO shall provide accurate, timely, and complete information on services, fees, charges, and exchange rates to promote accountability and consumer trust. Accountability: An IMTO, including its board, management, and agent, shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with regulatory obligations and the safe conduct of inward remittance operations.

Also on consumer protection, “an IMTO shall uphold fair treatment, privacy, and effective mechanisms for complaint resolution to safeguard customer rights. Technology neutrality: An IMTO may utilise any technology or delivery channel, provided they comply with regulatory standards for interoperability, security, operational efficiency, and consumer protection. Data protection and privacy: An IMTO shall safeguard customer information, ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and compliance with the Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843) and relevant international standards.”

Ghana’s Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843) establishes the legal framework for protecting personal data, regulates how organisations collect, store, and use it, and creates the Data Protection Commission to enforce compliance.

Additionally, parties interested in operating IMTOs in Ghana must apply for registration with the Bank of Ghana, providing detailed documentation including proof of licensing in their home country, company ownership and management profiles, transaction flow processes, internal controls, and consumer protection mechanisms. The BoG will assess applications for completeness and compliance, granting or rejecting approval within 90 days, and may request additional information or third-party assessments as part of the process.

IMTOs, according to BoG, are to desist from engaging in any other financial activities outside the scope of their license or risks loosing it.