The CEO of Margins ID Group, Moses K. Baiden, has announced Ghana's upcoming launch of a digital version of the national ID, the Ghana Card, alongside the existing physical card.

The electronic ID profile, akin to the e-passport feature, is already integrated into the card and is slated for activation in the coming year.

When activated, the digital ID will allow users to transfer all Ghana Card information from the card's chip to the owner's mobile phone via an app.

A digital replica of the Ghana Card, complete with a bar/QR code for digital verification, will be generated on the phone.

Baiden emphasized the importance of retaining the physical card, citing the prevalence of mobile phones and the lack of infrastructure for widespread digital ID verification.

Despite the ongoing progress, he noted that the country is not ready to entirely discard physical cards in favor of digital ones.

The Ghana Card, often subject to jokes about its payment capabilities, actually features a payment application among its 18 segments.

Baiden highlighted the need for legislation and funds to activate all segments, clarifying that Margins, by law, must pre-finance and prove functionality before government payment.

Margins, as a locally-owned company, has been instrumental in developing Ghana's ID system.

The Ghana Card's digital version aims to provide convenience, especially in cases where the physical card is unavailable.

Additionally, the company has saved the state over $1.5 billion, addressing a 50-year-old problem with the reliable issuance of universal national ID cards.

Despite the advancements, human behavior hurdles remain, as some individuals and institutions still require physical appearances for service delivery.

Margins has also developed NFC card-readers for online/offline verification, contributing to the efficiency of Ghana's ID system.

Baiden believes the Ghana Card is the "master key" for precise and effective development planning, ensuring no citizen or resident is left behind.