The National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced that it will soon activate the electronic wallet (e-wallet) feature of the Ghana Card, enabling cardholders to make payments, transfer money, and carry out other financial transactions directly with their national ID.
Executive Secretary of the NIA, Yayra Korku Deku, disclosed the plans in an interview with Joy News, noting that the e-wallet is the next major phase of the card’s rollout after the successful implementation of its e-ID and e-passport functions.
“What it means is that you can put money on your Ghana Card and use it to do transactions, that is to pay for anything that you do. And we are hoping that this one will generate a huge sum of money for us,” Mr. Deku explained.
He said the move is expected not only to optimise the operations of the Authority but also to enhance Ghana’s financial inclusion drive, making the Ghana Card a central tool for secure identification and digital transactions.
Mr. Deku revealed that several commercial banks have expressed interest in hosting the e-wallet system, but the NIA intends to build a uniform platform that will allow multiple banks and payment providers to operate seamlessly within one ecosystem.
“In fact, we received a proposal from banks that want to come and house it, but what we want to do is build a uniform platform so that once it is ready, all these banks can come on board,” he stated.
This integration, according to the NIA, will enable everyday cashless transactions—from shopping and bill payments to public services—without the need for additional payment cards.
In a related development, the Executive Secretary disclosed that the Authority is exploring a partnership with the Ghana Gold Board to use the Ghana Card as a platform for gold trading and tokenized transactions.
He said this will create greater transparency and accountability in Ghana’s gold sector while providing citizens with a reliable digital channel for participating in legal gold trade.
“You’ve heard that the Gold Board and others want to do tokenization. So we are also looking at how the Ghana Card can become the means of transaction in that space,” he added.
According to the NIA, the Ghana Card was originally designed with three profiles: the e-ID (already in use), the e-passport (activated in 2022), and the soon-to-be-launched e-wallet.
The activation of the e-wallet, officials say, will mark a significant milestone in the government’s digitalisation agenda, aligning with efforts to reduce cash dependency and modernise the national payment system.