Ghana’s National Identification Authority has activated an embedded digital payment wallet in the Ghana Card, the country’s biometric national identity card, allowing holders to make ATM withdrawals, in-store and online purchases, and international payments across more than 200 countries.
The payment function, which the NIA first announced in September 2025, is now live and accessible to current Ghana Card holders through the MyCitizens app or by dialling *402#. The rollout completes what the NIA has described as a triple-purpose design for the card: electronic identity, e-passport, and payment instrument.
The Ghana Card already functions as a travel document accepted in 197 countries after the e-passport function was activated in 2022. With the wallet now live, the card consolidates identity verification, travel documentation, and financial access into a single biometric credential. The wallet is not controlled by a single bank or financial institution, positioning it as open infrastructure for broad financial access rather than a product tied to a specific provider.
The NIA’s stated objective is financial inclusion. Ghana’s credit card penetration rate was forecast at 0.6 percent in 2024, with projections suggesting it would remain low through 2029. By embedding payment capability into a nationally issued identity credential, the NIA is targeting the population of Ghanaians who hold a Ghana Card but lack access to conventional banking products.
Additional services accessible through the wallet include insurance products and emergency assistance. The NIA has described the MyCitizens app as the primary activation channel, with the *402# USSD shortcode offering an alternative for users without smartphones. Cardholders do not need to apply for a new card to access the wallet feature.
The launch builds on Ghana’s recent expansion of biometric identity use cases. The NIA earlier extended the Ghana Card’s role by mandating biometric Ghana Card-linked IDs for the Journalists Association and other organizations, building an established precedent for the card as an authentication layer across sectors. The NIA also mandated biometric verification for all gambling activities in the country, extending the Ghana Card’s role as the core identity verification instrument across regulated sectors.
Ghana’s approach of embedding financial services into biometric national identity infrastructure aligns with a broader model emerging across West Africa, where digital identity programs are being designed from the outset to support services beyond government administration.
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
