The government is preparing to roll out a new nationwide SIM registration exercise that will be completely free and far more convenient than the previous one, according to the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George.
Speaking at a media engagement, the Minister said the initiative is being implemented under the direct instruction of President John Dramani Mahama to address the major difficulties Ghanaians faced during the 2022–2023 exercise.
Unlike before, the upcoming process will be largely self-service. Subscribers will be able to complete the entire registration on their mobile phones without visiting any telecom service centre.
According to Mr George, the system has been deliberately designed to allow most Ghanaians to register their SIM cards from anywhere in the world with ease.
He stressed that the exercise will come at no cost to users. This marks a significant change from the previous registration, where some self-service options attracted charges. Improved system efficiency, he said, will also prevent multiple deductions or failed payments.
The Minister attributed confidence in the new system to close collaboration between the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the National Identification Authority (NIA).
Both institutions are working to ensure that all submitted information is verified directly against the national identification database. Weak verification processes were a major flaw in the previous exercise and undermined trust in the Central SIM Register.
With the new approach, authorities hope to build a more reliable and credible database that supports national security and digital services.
One of the major improvements is global accessibility. Ghanaians living abroad will be able to register their SIM cards remotely using their Ghana Card, eliminating the need to travel home or depend on middlemen.
To prevent impersonation and fraud, the system will include a liveliness verification test. Users will be required to take a real-time facial image, which will be matched with the photo stored on their Ghana Card.
In addition, every registration attempt will require a One-Time Password (OTP). This code will be sent to the phone number linked to the Ghana Card holder, and the process will only continue after approval.
Mr George warned that individuals who knowingly allow others to use their identity details for SIM registration will be held responsible for any criminal activity linked to those numbers.
The Minister admitted that the earlier registration exercise had serious weaknesses. Recent checks by the NCA revealed that about 19 percent of sampled SIM registrations were invalid, exposing significant gaps in the system.
He assured the public that the new framework prioritises consumer protection, accuracy, and data integrity rather than procurement interests.
Not all existing SIM cards will automatically qualify under the new system. SIMs linked to fraudulent or unverifiable identities may need to be regularised within a specified period.
Meanwhile, the SIM Registration Bill that will provide full legal backing for the exercise is currently before Parliament awaiting approval.
If passed, authorities say the new process will produce a secure, transparent, and trustworthy national SIM database while making life easier for subscribers
