Ghana becomes first African country to add payment feature to national ID card

Ghana has become the first country in Africa to integrate payment functionality into its national identity card, a move aimed at strengthening domestic financial infrastructure and reducing reliance on global payment giants.

The new system allows citizens to use the Ghana Card not only for identification but also for financial transactions such as retail payments, ATM withdrawals, and online purchases.

The initiative is powered by Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS), the national payment switch created by the Bank of Ghana to modernise the country’s financial system.

With the upgrade, the Ghana Card’s embedded chip now includes payment capability that connects directly to Ghana’s domestic banking and digital payment network.

Citizens can activate the payment feature through mobile applications, USSD codes, or participating banks. Once activated, the card can be used for point-of-sale transactions, ATM withdrawals, QR payments, and other everyday financial activities.

The development is part of Ghana’s broader effort to strengthen its homegrown digital payment ecosystem and reduce dependence on foreign card networks such as Visa and Mastercard.

Officials say the goal is not necessarily to eliminate international payment cards but to prioritise domestic infrastructure that keeps more transaction value within the local economy.

Ghana has been steadily expanding its financial technology ecosystem in recent years. The country already operates several domestic payment platforms, including the e-zwich biometric smart card system and interoperable mobile money networks that allow users to transfer funds across different telecom operators and banks.

The integration of payment features into the national ID card builds on those efforts by combining identity verification and financial access into a single tool.

By turning the Ghana Card into a payment instrument, authorities hope to make digital transactions more accessible and reduce barriers to participating in the formal financial system.

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The initiative could also influence other African countries exploring ways to build sovereign payment systems that rely less on international card networks.

Countries such as Nigeria have already begun pursuing similar goals through domestic card initiatives aimed at strengthening local payment processing.

If Ghana’s model proves successful, it could reshape how identity systems and financial services are integrated across Africa.