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
Over Two decades.
Built. Proven. Trusted.
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.
Produced and supplied membership ID cards for the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), supporting nationwide member identification.
Printed and supplied the first Ghana Card, marking Ghana’s earliest large-scale national identity rollout.
Produced driver’s licenses for Liberia, extending ICPS’s secure document services beyond Ghana.
Produced banking cards for Net One, supporting electronic payments and financial inclusion initiatives.
Manufactured and delivered e-Zwich cards for Net One, contributing to Ghana’s interoperable electronic payment system.
Manufactured National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) non-smart cards, enabling access to healthcare services nationwide.
Prints and supplies the Non-Citizen Ghana Card, supporting secure identification for resident non-citizens.
Manufactured National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Contactless Smartcards, enabling access to healthcare services nationwide.
Manufactured and supplied Contactless Smartcards for Driver’s License.
Manufacture Dual Interface Smartcard, prints and supplies the Ghana Card.
Manufactured and supplied multipurpose Smart ID cards for the University of Ghana.
Manufactured and supplied preprinted Liberia NID cards.
Manufacture dual-interface Smartcards for The Gambia National ID System — ECOWAS card, Non-ECOWAS card, Alien card, Resident Permit, Non-Gambian ID card and Driver’s Licence.
/ 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
/ Policies
Our policies.
The Quality Management System Policy
To produce the full range of secured documents, cards and solutions with set objectives that guarantee customer satisfaction, continual improvement, personnel motivation and meet compliance obligations.
This policy shall comply with Card Quality Management (CQM) requirements and shall be reviewed annually for its suitability and appropriateness.
Information Security Policy Statement
Margins ID Group is committed to protecting the Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability of its information assets to meet business, statutory, regulatory, and contractual obligations. Maintaining an effective Information Security Management System (ISMS) aligned with ISO/IEC 27001, ensuring that:
- Information security objectives are established, reviewed, and supported by top management.
- Risks to information assets are identified, assessed, and appropriately managed.
- Roles, responsibilities, and competencies are clearly defined and maintained.
- Security controls are driven by business needs and regularly reviewed for effectiveness.
- Employees, contractors, and relevant stakeholders are made aware of their information security responsibilities.
- The ISMS is continually improved through regular monitoring, auditing, and management review.
This policy is supported by Margins ID Group’s leadership, with resources provided to ensure its implementation and improvement, and applies to all employees, contractors, and relevant third parties.
Business Continuity Policy Statement
The objective of the Business Continuity Policy is to ensure the continuity of critical business operations that are necessary for conducting business during a disaster and minimise the disruption of critical operations by putting in place a robust and resilient business continuity strategy and framework while meeting regulatory and compliance requirements.
The BCMS framework for Margins ID Group shall be aligned to the guidelines and directions provided by the Board, ISO 22301, other relevant standards and best international practices.
Service Management Policy Statement
Margins ID Group is committed to ensuring that IT Services are delivered as agreed with the customers and continually improving the IT services delivered. We achieve this by:
- Ensuring that IT Service requirements are clearly defined and understood.
- Establishing performance metrics for reviewing service management objectives.
- Ensuring that employees, contract employees, and third-party employees do adhere to these policies.
- Ensuring that IT Service Management is frequently reviewed for continuing eligibility.
This policy is supported by Margins ID Group’s leadership, with resources provided to ensure its implementation and improvement, and applies to all employees, contractors, and relevant third parties.
/ Facilities
Purpose-Built.
Secure by Design.
Globally Trusted.
/ 01
A 5,000 m² High-Security Manufacturing Environment
The ICPS facility spans 5,000 square metres of controlled industrial space, purpose-allocated to support:
- High-volume secure card manufacturing
- Advanced personalization and chip encoding
- Secure materials handling and storage
- Segregated operational zones for different security classifications
The scale and layout allow ICPS to operate multiple secure programs concurrently, without compromising security, quality, or delivery timelines.
Security Architecture & Controlled Access
Security is foundational to how the ICPS facility is designed and operated. The site incorporates multi-layered physical, procedural, and technological controls, including:
- Zoned access with role-based authorisation
- Continuous monitoring and surveillance
- Secure vaults and controlled storage areas
- Traceable materials movement from intake to dispatch
- Independent security segregation for sensitive processes
These measures ensure full compliance with ISO 14298 (Governmental Level Security Printing), Intergraf Central Bank-level standards, and global card-scheme requirements.
Advanced Production & Personalisation Zones
Within the facility, ICPS maintains specialised production halls and secure rooms dedicated to:
- Smart card and document manufacturing
- Dual-interface, contact and contactless card production
- EMV-compliant financial card personalisation
- Laser engraving and advanced personalisation technologies
- Secure chip encoding and data loading
All processes are governed by audited workflows, ensuring end-to-end accountability, quality assurance, and data integrity.
Technology-Enabled Scalability
The ICPS facility was designed with long-term scalability in mind. Its infrastructure supports:
- Continuous equipment upgrades
- Integration of next-generation card and identity technologies
- Expansion of production lines without disrupting live national programs
Current operations support over 60 million cards annually, with infrastructure capacity scalable to 150 million cards, positioning ICPS to meet both national and regional demand.
Resilient Infrastructure & Continuity
To support mission-critical national identity and financial programs, the facility incorporates:
- Redundant power systems
- Controlled environmental conditions
- Secure IT and data environments
- Disaster-resilient design features
These safeguards ensure operational continuity, even under challenging conditions, reinforcing ICPS’s role as a dependable partner for critical infrastructure projects.
/ 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