About ICPS / Est. 2004
A legacy of
trust.
Intelligent Card Production Systems (ICPS) is a world-class, ISO-certified card manufacturing and personalization facility based in Accra, Ghana. As the specialized production arm of Margins ID Group, ICPS is a state-of-the-art document producer in Sub-Saharan Africa, operating from a 5,000 m² high-security facility built to the highest global standards.
Built on vision and partnership.
ICPS was established in 2004 as a subsidiary of the Margins Group (which was founded in 1990 by Moses Kwesi Baiden Jnr) to manufacture and deliver high-security, fraud-resistant documents and smart cards.
The factory was built on the foundation of a broader partnership between Ghana and Denmark, as well as the longstanding collaboration between Moses Kwesi Baiden Jnr. (the founder of Margins Group) and Peter Blom, a Danish businessman and technology expert. Their relationship, rooted in shared vision and mutual trust, created the enabling environment for knowledge transfer, technical support, and international collaboration.
With support from the Danish Government through DANIDA, ICPS gained the capital, technical expertise, and institutional backing required to establish a world-class secure card manufacturing facility in Accra, built to meet international standards.
5,000
Square Metres
60M+
Cards Annually
/ The Journey
Two decades.
Three inflection points.
From the original Ghana Card to central-bank-level Intergraf admission — a continuous trajectory of trust.
Foundations 2004 – 2010
Official Launch
In April 2004, Intelligent Card Production Systems (ICPS) was officially incorporated as the specialized manufacturing arm of the Group, becoming the first and largest card manufacturing facility in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Ghana’s First ID Card
In 2006, ICPS played a significant role in Ghana’s journey towards a National Identification System (NIS). Through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with the National Identification Authority (NIA), ICPS became the sole manufacturer of the original 2D Ghana Card. Over two million national ID cards were securely produced for Ghanaian citizens.
Global Certifications
In 2010, ICPS became the first facility in West Africa to achieve ISO 9001 and ISO 14298 (Governmental Level Security Printing). These certifications ensured ICPS products met the same standards as those produced in Europe and North America.
Scaling & National Impact 2011 – 2020
Technological Expansion
With support from the Danish Export Credit Agency (EKF) and local financiers, ICPS underwent a massive technological upgrade in 2015. This allowed the facility to produce dual-interface smart cards, financial EMV cards, and advanced personalisation chip encoding and specialised waterproof documents. These upgrades enabled ICPS to serve the banking, telecommunications, and government sectors across Ghana and the broader West African region.
The Smart Ghana Card
In 2012 and 2017, ICPS became the secure manufacturing backbone for the modern Ghana Card, a smart, 3D chip-based national ID, reinforcing its role at the heart of the country’s identity infrastructure.
EMV Certification
In 2020, ICPS attained Europay, Mastercard, and Visa (EMV) certification, formally authorising the facility to manufacture and personalise EMV-compliant smart payment cards in accordance with the rigorous security, quality, and interoperability requirements of the world’s leading card schemes. This achievement marked ICPS’s full integration into the global financial card manufacturing ecosystem, enabling it to support domestic and regional electronic payment systems at international banking standards.
Continental Leadership 2021 – Present
Intergraf Central Bank-Level Certification
In 2021, ICPS achieved a historic continental first by becoming the first African card manufacturer admitted into the elite circle of Intergraf-certified companies at Central Bank security level. This recognition placed ICPS among a select group of global secure printers trusted to operate at the highest levels of monetary, sovereign, and governmental security, validating the facility’s governance, technical controls, and operational maturity.
Regional Expansion
Building on the success of the Ghana Card program and its international certifications, ICPS expanded beyond Ghana’s borders. In early 2026, the company secured a major contract to deliver the National ID Cards for The Gambia, outperforming several global competitors.
Innovation & Education
The facility has become a hub for African industrial pride, hosting delegations from institutions like Columbia Business School (2025) and receiving high-level visits from world leaders and diplomats.
Modern Milestones
Today, ICPS operates with a production capacity exceeding 60 million cards annually (with infrastructure scalable to 150 million). It has maintained over 20 years of expertise in the identity space and remains a symbol of successful international cooperation in Africa’s digital transformation.
/ Key Projects & Contracts
Landmark deliveries.
Over the years, ICPS delivered several landmark projects across identity, financial services, and public sector programs.
2007
Printed and supplied the first Ghana Card, marking Ghana’s earliest large-scale national identity rollout.
2008
Produced driver’s licenses for Liberia, extending ICPS’s secure document services beyond Ghana.
2008
Produced banking cards for Net One, supporting electronic payments and financial inclusion initiatives.
2009 – 2011
Manufactured and delivered e-Zwich cards for Net One, contributing to Ghana’s interoperable electronic payment system.
2010 – 2014
Manufactured National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) non-smart cards, enabling access to healthcare services nationwide.
2012 – Present
Prints and supplies the Non-Citizen Ghana Card, supporting secure identification for resident non-citizens.
2014 – 2025
Manufactured National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Contactless Smartcards, enabling access to healthcare services nationwide.
/ Certifications
A facility built for
trust.
ICPS’s facility has been independently assessed and certified by leading international bodies, including:
- ISO
- EMV (Europay, Mastercard, Visa)
- Intergraf
These global accreditors have affirmed that the ICPS facility operates at the same security and quality benchmarks as leading secure manufacturers in Europe, North America, and Asia.
Our Certifications
ISO 9001
Quality Management
ISO/IEC 27001:2022
Information Security Management
ISO/IEC 20000:2018
IT Service Management
ISO 22301:2019
Business Continuity Management
ISO 14298:2022
Security Printing Systems
PCI Card Production
Secure Payment Card Manufacturing
/ Awards & Recognition
Milestones that
set the standard.
Two decades of firsts — each one independently earned, each one a benchmark for secure manufacturing on the African continent.
A continental first
Incorporated as the first and largest secure card manufacturing facility in Sub-Saharan Africa.
West Africa’s first
First facility in West Africa to achieve ISO 9001 and ISO 14298 governmental-level security printing.
EMV certified
Authorised by Europay, Mastercard and Visa to manufacture and personalise EMV-compliant payment cards.
Intergraf Central Bank level
The first African card manufacturer admitted to the elite circle of Intergraf-certified companies at Central Bank security level — a historic continental first.
A hub for African industry
Hosted the Columbia Business School delegation and high-level diplomatic visits — recognised as a model of African industrial excellence.
Beyond Ghana’s borders
Awarded The Gambia’s National ID Card programme, outperforming several established global competitors.
/ Leadership
The minds behind the mission.
A board and management team combining decades of expertise in secure identity, technology, and manufacturing.
Peter Blom
Chairman
Danish businessman and technology expert whose longstanding partnership with the Margins Group created the enabling environment for ICPS to be established.
Moses Baiden
Director
Founder of the Margins Group, a pioneer in identity and secure document systems across Africa.
Kwesi Baiden
Director
Driving strategic direction and governance across the Margins ID Group and its subsidiaries.
Emmanuel Selby
Director
Expert in secure document production, quality management, and operational compliance.
Charles Mevaa
Chief Executive Officer
Driving operational excellence, certification standards, and regional expansion across Africa.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Building more than
cards.
Every credential we produce carries a wider purpose — growing local expertise, protecting the environment, and advancing the communities that trust us.
Local capacity building
Employing and training Ghanaian engineers and technicians, transferring world-class secure-manufacturing skills and keeping high-value expertise on the continent.
Education & knowledge
Hosting academic delegations, internships and industry visits — from Columbia Business School to local institutions — to inspire the next generation of African innovators.
Environmental responsibility
ISO 14298-controlled processes, responsible material sourcing and continuous waste reduction across every stage of card and document production.
National & social impact
Enabling secure identity and financial inclusion for millions of citizens — the foundation of digital economies and inclusive national development.
/ Inside ICPS
Tour our
high-security
environment.
Discover how we maintain central-bank-grade security standards across every cleanroom, personalisation line, and fulfilment zone.
Detailed facility specs