President John Dramani Mahama has commended Margins ID Group for their pivotal role in advancing Ghana’s digital identity infrastructure through the implementation of the Ghana Card.
He said the Ghana Card was more than a national identification tool and its successful roll out highlighted the company’s importance in shaping the digital future of the country.
Speaking at the 9th Ghana CEO Summit in Accra, the President described the Ghana Card as the backbone of a digitally sovereign and competitive economy.
“It has become the foundation for a modern digital state,” President Mahama said, noting that the system has attracted interest from other African countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“I recently received a request from the DR Congo asking for a reference on Moses and the Ghana Card system. They wanted to know if the Ghana Card had done a good job. I said, yes,” the President added.
He cited the card’s practical applications, particularly in the planned reintroduction of road tolls. With each vehicle now linked to its owner’s Ghana Card, the toll system will be automated.
“We no longer need the old toll booths, we just take a picture of your car, and the bill is sent directly to your mobile money or bank account,” he added.
On his part, the CEO of Margins ID Group, Mr Moses Kwesi Baiden, elaborated on the integration of the Ghana Card with various government agencies, including the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA).
According to him the system allowed for real-time biometric verification, with user data appearing in the DVLA database within 300 milliseconds.
“This means that when you buy a vehicle, it’s registered directly to you—there’s no ambiguity. Your driver’s licence, vehicle ownership, and insurance details are all tied to your national ID, whether you register remotely or in person,” he added.
He noted that law enforcement officers could verify a driver’s identity and documents even in the absence of a physical licence, making enforcement more efficient and accurate.
Describing the Ghana Card as the “infrastructure of trust,” Mr Baiden said the system enables citizens to access government and private services around the clock. “You can make payments, receive deliveries, or open a bank account using facial recognition,” he noted.
He said the security sector has also benefited. Law enforcement agencies can now create real-time search lists and track individuals across borders using biometric verification. “Our systems can identify individuals even without the physical card, using only fingerprints,” he said.
He credited the success of the Ghana Card to a public-private partnership led by Margins ID Group since 2012. “This is not a theoretical system,” Mr Baiden said. “It’s a fully functional ecosystem used every day by millions of Ghanaians.”
For his leadership and innovation, Mr Baiden was honored with two awards at the summit: “CEO of the Year – Technology, Infrastructure, National” and “CEO of the Year – Technology/ICT Sector.”
BY TIMES REPORTER
