SIM registration to be free, secure, and seamless, Gov’t assures parliament

The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has assured Parliament that the government’s upcoming SIM re-registration exercise will be a seamless, secure, and cost-free process for all citizens.

The Minister provided the assurance on Thursday while briefing the Parliamentary Select Committee on Information and Communication, as part of ongoing stakeholder engagements ahead of the nationwide rollout. The exercise is being conducted in collaboration with the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the National Identification Authority (NIA).

In a statement following the engagement, the Ministry outlined significant technological upgrades to the new system. Key improvements include real-time biometric verification, mandatory audit trails, and stricter accountability measures designed to track all registration activities and identify responsible agents.

Minister George emphasized that Mobile Network Operators will not pass any registration-related costs onto subscribers, reaffirming that the process will remain entirely free.

Categorised Registration Process
Under the new framework, registration will be based on specific identification documents:

· Ghanaian citizens will register using the Ghana Card.
· Foreign residents will use the Non-Citizen Ghana Card.
· Refugees will present the Refugee Non-Citizen ID.
· Visitors and tourists will be required to provide a valid passport and proof of entry.
· Diplomats will use official identification.
· Corporate entities will register with a certificate of incorporation and the Ghana Card of an authorised signatory.

The Minister explained that SIM cards will only be activated after successful real-time biometric verification against the NIA database, ensuring that every active SIM is linked to a verified identity.

Enhanced Security and Anti-Fraud Features
The upgraded system will support both Android and iOS devices and will offer self-registration options for both eSIMs and physical SIMs. Other features include remote SIM delinking and real-time validation of diplomatic and corporate records. The system will also incorporate device verification through the Central Equipment Identity Register operated by the NCA.

Mr. George noted that the enhanced system is designed to strengthen national security, reduce identity fraud, and curb the use of unregistered or stolen devices. He added that strengthened verification protocols would address concerns over fake Ghana Cards, while the introduction of One-Time Password (OTP) authentication would ensure that SIM registration is completed only with the consent of the rightful owner.

Regarding inactive or non-compliant SIMs, particularly those belonging to foreign nationals, the Minister disclosed that such numbers would be subject to a 90-day validity period or aligned with the individual’s legal stay, with automated systems in place to deactivate non-compliant lines.

Collaboration and Next Steps
The Minister also highlighted collaboration with key institutions, including the Bank of Ghana and the Data Protection Commission, to align the exercise with financial and data protection regulations.

The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Information and Communication, Bandim Lamangin Abed-Nego, commended the Ministry for its proactive engagement and detailed briefing. He stressed the need for transparency, public trust, and sustained public education to ensure nationwide compliance.