Advancing Digital Identity: Insights from the Ghana Digital & Innovation Week 2025

The conversation brought together:

• Mr. Solomon Kofi Richardson, National Information Technology Agency, Ghana
• Dr.-Ing. Torsten Lodderstedt, Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation (SPRIND), Germany
• Dr. Aaron Bedzrah, National Identification Authority, Ghana
• Ms. Franziska Granc, Bitkom Working Group on Digital Identities, Germany
• Mr. Maxwell Ababio, Data Protection Commission, Ghana

Despite differences in institutional maturity and regulatory environments, it was agreed that digital identity will be a cornerstone of future digital services; from finance to health, education, and cross-border mobility.

Ghana’s Foundational ID System: Progress and Challenges

Panellists highlighted the significant strides Ghana has made in expanding coverage of its foundational ID. The integration of digital identity across sectors such as telecommunications, banking, and taxation is enabling more streamlined service delivery and improving data consistency across institutions.

However, discussions also pointed to ongoing challenges, including strengthening interoperability, enhancing data governance, and improving public understanding of data rights.

Germany’s Shift Toward a User-Centric Digital Wallet

Germany’s experience offered a different perspective. While the electronic ID function on national ID cards has long existed, its adoption has been low, mainly due to usability hurdles. The country is now transitioning toward the European Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet, a model that emphasises user control, security, and consent-based data sharing. This shift resonated strongly with Ghanaian stakeholders, particularly in discussions around authentication, portability, and institutional integration.

Cross-Cutting Themes: Inclusion, Trust, and Governance

Across both countries, several shared priorities emerged:

• Inclusion: Digital identity solutions must work for people with varying levels of digital literacy and access.
• Trust: Protecting privacy and ensuring transparency in data use is essential for adoption.
• Governance: Coordinated policies, strong institutions, and clear regulatory frameworks underpin every successful identity ecosystem.
• Innovation: With interoperable systems and vibrant private-sector participation, digital identity can unlock new services and business models.

Opportunities for Collaboration

The panel closed with a strong call for continued Ghana–Germany collaboration, especially in the following areas:

• Designing interoperable, human-centred identity systems
• Strengthening data protection and promoting consent-driven data use
• Knowledge exchange on user experience, authentication standards, and digital wallets
• Joint research on digital identity governance models
• Building capacity for regulators, public institutions, and private-sector operators

A Shared Vision for the Future

The session underscored that while Ghana and Germany are at different stages of their digital identity journeys, both countries are driven by the same ambition: to build trusted digital ecosystems that protect citizens while enabling innovation.

As digital transformation accelerates globally, the Ghanaian-German Digital Dialogue continues to serve as a critical platform for reflection, co-creation, and partnership ensuring that digital identity evolves in ways that are secure, inclusive, and grounded in public interest.