Ghana Tech Firm Wins Gambia's National ID System Contract

African innovation is making history as a Ghanaian company exports homegrown technology across the continent for the first time.

Margins ID Group, the company behind Ghana's national ID card system, won a competitive international contract to design and build The Gambia's entire national identification system. The landmark deal makes it the first African-owned company to successfully export a complete digital identity platform beyond its home country.

Eleven international firms competed for the project when bidding opened in July 2024. After months of technical evaluations and site visits to Ghana, Margins ID Group emerged as the winner based on its proven track record and advanced security features.

The Gambian government sent multiple delegations to inspect Margins' operations in Ghana. They toured the company's highly secure card manufacturing facility and watched Ghana's ID system in live operation. Officials also reviewed the company's eight global certifications and compliance with international standards.

Moses Kwesi Baiden Jr., founder and CEO of Margins ID Group, called the contract a defining moment for African digital innovation. He emphasized that The Gambia's system will be custom-built with enhanced features, not simply copied from Ghana's model.

The Ripple Effect

This achievement signals a turning point for African technology on the global stage. For decades, African governments relied on foreign companies to build critical digital infrastructure. Now, an African firm is proving it can compete with and beat global competitors on technical excellence and delivery capacity.

The Gambia's Interior Minister acknowledged that this marks the country's third attempt at establishing a national ID system after two previous failures. He pointed to Ghana's success as proof that Margins can deliver, calling the Ghana Card system "an example for Africa."

The project will provide Gambians with secure digital identities that enable financial inclusion, government services access, and legal recognition. The system will even serve Gambian citizens living abroad.

The Gambian government emphasized knowledge transfer as a priority, ensuring local capacity building throughout the project. Government institutions across multiple ministries participated in the evaluation process, reflecting a whole-of-government commitment to getting it right this time.

African technology is no longer just for African problems—it's becoming the solution Africa chooses.