The Government of The Gambia has awarded Ghanaian technology firm, Margins ID Group, a landmark contract to deliver a comprehensive National Identification System and Integrated Digital ID Platform, marking a major breakthrough for African-led digital transformation.
Under the agreement, Margins ID Group will design, build, finance, co-operate and transfer the national identity infrastructure, making it the first African-owned company to successfully export a full-scale national and digital identity system outside its home country.
The development is being hailed as a significant milestone for Ghana’s technology sector and a broader demonstration of Africa’s growing capacity to develop, deploy and sustain critical digital infrastructure.
The contract followed an international competitive tender launched on July 22, 2024 which attracted 11 global firms.
After rigorous technical and financial evaluations, three companies were shortlisted with Margins ID Group emerging as the successful bidder on the strength of its technical design, security architecture and proven delivery capacity.
As part of the selection process, several Gambian government delegations undertook extensive technical due diligence in Ghana.
This included inspections of Intelligent Card Production Systems (ICPS), Margins’ high-security card manufacturing facility, as well as Margins ID Systems Applications Limited, the Group’s technology subsidiary responsible for software development and systems integration.
The delegations also reviewed Margins’ international certifications and observed live operations of Ghana’s National Identification System, which the company designed, built, financed and currently co-operates in partnership with the National Identification Authority.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Margins ID Group, Mr. Moses Kwesi Baiden Jnr., described the agreement as a defining moment for African innovation.
“This is a historic milestone. It demonstrates that African technology can be trusted, competitive and scalable across borders,” he said at the signing ceremony.
He stressed that the Gambian system is not a replica of Ghana’s national ID platform but an evolved solution.
“What we are deploying in The Gambia incorporates enhanced security controls and a more advanced architecture informed by experience,” Mr. Baiden said, adding “It is designed to promote inclusion, lawful identity, financial access and seamless service delivery.”
The Permanent Secretary of The Gambia’s Ministry of Interior, Mr. Matar Ceesay, said the project had undergone extensive government-wide scrutiny.
“We have carried out our due diligence thoroughly. Our repeated visits to Ghana have shown us what is possible and we are confident in Margins’ capabilities,” he noted.
The Minister of Interior for The Gambia, Hon. Abdoulie Sanyang, described the signing as a turning point for his country, noting that it represents the country’s third attempt at establishing a national identification system.
“We got it wrong twice,” the Minister admitted. “This time, we carefully examined every aspect to ensure the system is secure, reliable and sustainable.”
Referencing Ghana’s experience, he described the Ghana Card as a continental benchmark and expressed optimism that the partnership with Margins would deliver lasting results. He also underscored the importance of knowledge transfer and local capacity-building as part of the project.
The signing ceremony attracted broad representation from across The Gambian government, including officials from the Ministry of Interior, Immigration Service, Police Service, Ministry of Digital Economy, Ministry of Justice and the Directorate of Public-Private Partnerships, reflecting a whole-of-government approach to the initiative.
Once implemented, the new identification system is expected to modernise governance in The Gambia, improve access to healthcare, education, financial services and digital public services, while strengthening data protection and privacy.
The project also aligns with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), serving as a practical example of Africa-to-Africa trade and cooperation driven by indigenous technology.
Margins ID Group is a Ghanaian-owned technology firm with more than 35 years’ experience in secure identity solutions.
Headquartered in Accra, the Group operates subsidiaries covering biometric enrolment, secure card production and digital verification, and it is the architect of Ghana’s National Identification System, which has registered over 19.2 million citizens and is integrated across 262 public and private institutions nationwide.
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The post Technology Breakthrough For Ghana: Margins To Build ID System For The Gambia appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.
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