The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Sam George, has assured Ghanaians that the upcoming SIM re-registration exercise will be the last, as government introduces a more advanced and user-friendly system to improve efficiency and curb fraud.

Speaking at a media engagement in Accra, the minister said the new process is fundamentally different from previous exercises, with stronger verification systems and improved coordination among state institutions.

Multi-agency collaboration

According to Sam George, the new system brings together key agencies including the National Identification Authority (NIA), National Communications Authority (NCA), Ghana Immigration Service, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He explained that the collaboration ensures a single, reliable source of identity verification, addressing loopholes that plagued earlier registration efforts.

“This gives me the confidence that if we execute this right, this will be the final SIM registration exercise,” he stated.

Advanced biometric verification

The minister revealed that the new system will rely heavily on biometric verification, including facial recognition and a “liveliness test” to authenticate users against the NIA database.

This approach is expected to eliminate the use of fake or photocopied Ghana Cards, which previously undermined the integrity of SIM registrations.

No automatic data migration

Sam George ruled out automatically transferring existing SIM registration data into the new system, warning that doing so would carry over existing flaws.

“You are not cleaning up. You are actually migrating the viruses,” he said, explaining that a fresh process is necessary to ensure data integrity.

Convenience for users

To improve accessibility, the new registration system will allow users to complete the process via smartphones from the comfort of their homes.

An appointment system will also be introduced for those who require in-person support, while mobile registration teams will be deployed nationwide.

Additionally, facilities such as Ghana Post offices and Community Information Centres will be used to expand access, especially in rural areas.

Stronger enforcement and fraud control

The Director-General of the National Communications Authority, Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, said the exercise will create a more secure and credible national SIM register.

He added that a Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) will be introduced to block stolen or unauthorised mobile devices across all networks.

Authorities also warned that individuals linked to fraudulent SIM registrations risk being blocked from telecom services if found culpable multiple times.

Legal framework underway

The rollout of the new SIM re-registration exercise will begin after the completion of the legal framework, which is currently under review and will be presented to Parliament.

Government says continued stakeholder engagement will ensure a smooth and widely accepted implementation.

The initiative forms part of broader efforts by Ghana to strengthen digital security, reduce mobile money fraud and enhance trust in the telecommunications ecosystem.