Ghana's National Identification Authority (NIA) has discontinued its services to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) due to an outstanding debt of GHC376 million.

Ghana's National Identification Authority (NIA) has discontinued its services to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) due to an outstanding debt of GHC376 million.

The National Identification Authority (NIA) has disconnected the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) from its Identity Verification Service (IVS) platform, effective from August 5, 2025, due to an outstanding debt exceeding GH¢376 million.

The IVS platform enables real-time verification of individuals' identities using the Ghana Card database, and its disconnection means that the GRA can no longer use this critical infrastructure to verify taxpayer and individual identities.

This move follows months of failed attempts by the NIA to get the GRA to pay or commit to a payment plan. The disconnection could potentially disrupt operations dependent on ID authentication, including those of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the Lands Commission, and fintech companies like Hubtel.

The potential consequences of this disconnection are far-reaching. Disruption of tax compliance and revenue collection activities may occur since the GRA cannot authenticate taxpayer identities effectively without the IVS. Operational delays at ports affecting importers and exporters are also a possibility, as verification processes related to customs clearance are hindered. Broader impacts on any government or private sector operations relying on Ghana Card verification through the IVS platform may also affect service delivery.

In response, the GRA has denied owing the debt, describing it as a "legacy debt" predating 2025. The Authority also highlighted a lack of regulatory or governance approvals for the transactions cited by the NIA. The GRA also noted that the NIA operates Ghana Card issuance desks at GRA offices without paying rent or utilities, suggesting a dispute over service agreements and financial liabilities is ongoing.

Williams Ampomah Darlas, Head of Corporate Affairs at the NIA, stated that they have written to the GRA numerous times and even escalated the issue to Parliament. As of the article's publication, the GRA has not publicly responded.

The NIA is urging for swift government intervention to ensure the continuity and sustainability of its systems. This critical national infrastructure is threatened by the current situation, and its disruption could have significant implications for various sectors of the Ghanaian economy.

[1] Myjoyonline.com, "NIA disconnects GRA from Identity Verification Service", August 5, 2025. [2] Ghanaweb.com, "GRA owes NIA over GH¢376 million, leading to disconnection from IVS", August 5, 2025. [3] CitiNewsroom.com, "GRA denies owing NIA over GH¢376 million, blames 'lack of regulatory approvals'", August 6, 2025. [4] Graphic.com.gh, "NIA-GRA dispute over GH¢376 million debt escalates", August 7, 2025. [5] Business24.com.gh, "NIA disconnects GRA from IVS over unpaid debt", August 5, 2025.

1. The dispute between the National Identification Authority (NIA) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) over a debt exceeding GH¢376 million could have significant implications for various sectors of the Ghanaian economy, including fintech companies, utilities like the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), and government agencies such as the Lands Commission.
2. The disconnection of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) from the Identity Verification Service (IVS) platform could potentially disrupt business activities, particularly in finance and politics, due to challenges in tax compliance, revenue collection, and service delivery, as well as operational delays at ports affecting importers and exporters.

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