The National Identification Authority (NIA) has disconnected the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) from its Identity Verification Service (IVS) platform over an outstanding debt of GH₵376 million. The move, announced on Tuesday, August 5, has disrupted operations at the country’s ports, leaving importers and exporters stranded due to delays in clearing goods.
This unprecedented action marks a major enforcement decision by the NIA, targeting a key state agency for failing to pay for essential services.
The IVS platform is a crucial digital system used by both public and private institutions to instantly verify individuals' identities using data from the Ghana Card. It plays a central role in various services, including tax collection, passport issuance, banking, and access to healthcare. With GRA now disconnected, the authority can no longer verify taxpayer identities through the platform, posing serious implications for tax compliance and revenue mobilisation.
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In an interview, the NIA’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Williams Aumman Dallas, stressed the urgency of the situation: “The verification platform needs to be maintained, and we need money.” At a press briefing, Dallas further emphasized the NIA’s growing financial strain, revealing that several public institutions—whose names he declined to disclose—have failed to settle their debts.
"There are institutions owing us, and it's seriously affecting our operations. We are appealing to these public institutions to honour their financial obligations. If they don’t, we will have no option but to deny them access to our services," Dallas warned.
The NIA, which runs on a semi-commercial model, relies heavily on payments from institutions for services such as identity verification and Ghana Card issuance. Yet many of these payments are either delayed or unpaid altogether, creating a budget shortfall that hinders the authority’s ability to function effectively.
As of 2024, the NIA reported debts exceeding GH₵150 million owed by various government agencies—a figure that has since more than doubled. The mounting arrears have compromised the authority’s capacity to maintain its infrastructure, expand its services, and meet payroll obligations.
The disconnection of the GRA, a pivotal player in the country’s revenue ecosystem, has sparked concern over the broader implications. With the tax agency unable to access the IVS, the functionality of Ghana’s digital tax system and verification processes at ports and land borders could face serious setbacks.
The NIA’s move signals a firm stance on institutional accountability and underscores the growing financial pressures threatening essential national services.
Story By: Afia Ohenewaa Akyerem