The National Identification Authority (NIA) has disconnected the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) from its Identity Verification Service (IVS) platform over an outstanding debt exceeding GH¢376 million.
The disconnection took effect on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, following what the NIA described as multiple unsuccessful attempts to get the GRA to settle the debt or commit to a payment plan.
Confirming the development in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM, NIA’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Williams Ampomah Darlas, said the Authority had exhausted all avenues for engagement.
“We have written to them [GRA] countless times, but we didn’t get a response. We even escalated the matter to Parliament. We gave them a final notice on July 29 to show commitment, or we would block them from our system. We didn’t hear from them, so effective August 5, we blocked them,” he explained.
Mr. Darlas further disclosed that other institutions, including the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the Lands Commission, and Hubtel, had been accessing NIA data through the GRA without authorisation—an act he described as unlawful.
“What is disheartening is that other institutions are also sourcing data from the GRA—especially ECG, Lands Commission, and Hubtel—which breaches the law. You take our data, don’t pay for it, and pass it to others with impunity. We are here today because of non-compliance,” he lamented.
He added that the situation was impacting the NIA’s operations and called for swift intervention.
“This is affecting our operational abilities. We understand the implications, but as an Authority, we also need to function,” he noted.
The NIA is urging immediate action to ensure the sustainability of the IVS platform and to uphold accountability in the management of Ghana’s identity infrastructure.
The IVS platform allows real-time identity verification using the Ghana Card database and is essential for public and private institutions that rely on biometric authentication for service delivery.
The disconnection has sparked concerns about potential disruptions to services dependent on the system.
Source: Adomonline.com
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