The Government of Ghana is preparing to introduce a completely new nationwide SIM registration exercise as part of broader reforms aimed at improving security and strengthening the telecommunications sector.
The Minister for Communications, Samuel Nartey George, announced that Cabinet had approved the reset of the SIM registration process following a comprehensive review of the earlier exercise.
He explained that the previous registration drive faced several challenges, including weak biometric verification, inconsistencies in data and cases of fraudulent registrations.
The announcement was made during discussions between the Ministry, the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications and the National Communications Authority (NCA), where stakeholders reviewed plans for the new SIM registration exercise and the rollout of 5G services in the country.
According to the Minister, the new system will introduce stricter verification measures to ensure credibility and strengthen national security.
Under the proposed framework, the NCA will serve as the central repository for all SIM registration data, while biometric verification will become mandatory for subscribers.
The government also plans to introduce a Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) to enable telecom operators to block stolen or fraud-linked mobile devices across all networks.
Mr George added that a revised Legislative Instrument was being prepared to provide the legal framework to regulate the new registration exercise.
Telecom operators welcomed the initiative but raised concerns about operational issues and the cost implications of implementing the new system. The government is yet to announce when the new SIM registration exercise will begin or who will finance the process.
Meanwhile, the meeting also reviewed government policy on the rollout of 5G technology in Ghana.
Mr George disclosed that Cabinet had approved the removal of the exclusivity clause under the previous wholesale 5G framework, paving the way for a competitive spectrum auction.
He explained that while the wholesale model had not been cancelled, the revised policy would allow a network-based rollout that enables multiple operators to participate in the deployment of 5G services nationwide.
Telecom operators noted that 5G deployment would require significant investment in infrastructure, spectrum acquisition and network upgrades, and therefore called for reasonable spectrum pricing and clear regulatory guidelines to support the process.
The meeting concluded with an agreement for continued technical engagements between the Ministry, the NCA and telecom operators to finalise the implementation framework for both the SIM registration reset and the upcoming 5G spectrum auction.
