NIA Disconnects GRA Over GH¢376 Million Debt, Raises Data Sharing Concerns
The National Identification Authority (NIA) has cut off the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) from its Identity Verification Service (IVS) platform over an outstanding debt exceeding GH¢376 million, citing persistent non-compliance and unauthorized third-party data access.
The disconnection took effect Tuesday, August 5, 2025, following what NIA officials say were numerous unanswered letters and appeals for payment or a binding commitment plan from the GRA.
“Countless Attempts Ignored” – NIA
Speaking on Eyewitness News with Sammi Wiafe, Williams Ampomah Darlas, Head of Corporate Affairs at the NIA, explained that the authority had no choice but to escalate the issue after failing to secure any response—even after alerting Parliament.
“We gave them our last notice on July 29 to show commitment. When we didn’t hear from them, we blocked them effective August 5,” Darlas said.
The IVS platform is a critical tool that allows both public and private institutions to verify individual identities in real time using data from the Ghana Card system. The GRA’s disconnection has already sparked concerns over disruption to tax and related services that depend on identity authentication.
Unauthorized Access by ECG, Lands Commission, Hubtel
In a startling revelation, the NIA also accused the GRA of illegally providing access to its data systems to third-party institutions such as the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the Lands Commission, and Hubtel.
“You have taken our data, you are not paying what you are supposed to pay to us, and you are giving the data to other institutions—breaching the law with impunity,” Darlas stated.
He emphasized that the practice not only violates data protection laws but also impacts the NIA’s operational capacity due to the unpaid revenue required to maintain and upgrade the system.
NIA Calls for Urgent Government Intervention
The NIA is now calling for immediate intervention to ensure that the Ghana Card infrastructure—a backbone of national identity verification—is sustainably managed and protected from further misuse.
Stakeholders warn that prolonged disconnection could disrupt access to essential services, including taxation, utility subscriptions, land documentation, and financial transactions that depend on real-time identity checks.
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