NIA Unveils Plans for Ghana Card E-Wallet to Boost Financial Inclusion
The National Identification Authority (NIA) has revealed plans to soon launch the electronic wallet (e-wallet) feature for the Ghana Card, allowing cardholders to perform financial transactions such as payments and money transfers directly using their national ID.
In an interview with Joy News, Yayra Korku Deku, the Executive Secretary of the NIA, outlined that the e-wallet represents the next significant phase in the Ghana Card’s deployment, building on the successful rollout of its e-ID and e-passport functionalities.
Mr. Deku elaborated, “This means you can load funds onto your Ghana Card and use it for transactions, such as paying for goods and services. We anticipate this feature will generate substantial revenue for us.”
He emphasized that this initiative is set to streamline the NIA’s operations while advancing Ghana’s financial inclusion goals, positioning the Ghana Card as a key tool for secure identification and digital financial activities.
According to Mr. Deku, multiple commercial banks have shown interest in hosting the e-wallet system, but the NIA aims to develop a unified platform to ensure seamless integration of various banks and payment providers into a single ecosystem.
“We’ve had proposals from banks eager to manage the system, but our goal is to create a standardized platform that allows all banks to participate once it’s ready,” he explained.
This integrated system, the NIA notes, will facilitate cashless transactions for everyday needs—such as shopping, bill payments, and accessing public services—eliminating the need for separate payment cards.
Additionally, Mr. Deku shared that the NIA is in discussions with the Ghana Gold Board to explore using the Ghana Card as a platform for gold trading and tokenized transactions.
He noted that this collaboration would enhance transparency and accountability in Ghana’s gold industry while offering citizens a secure digital avenue for engaging in legal gold trading.
“We’re exploring how the Ghana Card can serve as a transactional tool for tokenized gold trading, in line with initiatives from the Gold Board,” he added.
The NIA clarified that the Ghana Card was designed with three core profiles: the e-ID (already operational), the e-passport (launched in 2022), and the forthcoming e-wallet.
Officials state that the e-wallet’s activation will be a pivotal step in the government’s digitalisation efforts, supporting the reduction of cash reliance and the modernization of Ghana’s national payment infrastructure.
