Accra, Nov. 10, GNA – The National Identification Authority (NIA) on Thursday said it was unlawful for any person or persons to reject the Ghanacard as an identity document.

In a statement issued in Accra and copied to Ghana News Agency, the NIA stated that its attention had been drawn to media publications that some banks were rejecting the Ghanacard presented by citizens as proof of their identity.

The NIA said any person holding the National Identity Card was the bonafide owner since the cards were authenticated with a live fingerprint before issuance.

"The NIA therefore encourages the public to treat the Ghana card as provided under the Act of Parliament and warns that any person who rejects the national identity card violates the provisions of the law," it added.

It said “Section 2, sub-section (2) of the National Identification Authority Act, 2006 (Act707) states that “to achieve its objective, the Authority shall, (a) collect personal data; i) on citizens resident in the Republic and abroad, and ii) on foreign nationals permanently residing in the country,(c) issue national identity cards to i) citizens, and, ii) foreign national permanently resident in the country.

The statement said Sub-section 3 of Act 707 states that “National Identity cards issued under this act, shall be used in transactions which require identification".