By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, has explained the rationale behind the ongoing SIM re-registration exercise, citing concerns about fraudulent Ghana Cards being used to register SIM cards.
The Minister stated that 81.1% of SIM cards that passed the first phase of registration may have been acquired using illegitimate Ghana Cards.
To address this, he said the government is introducing a liveliness test, which will require individuals to undergo facial recognition to verify their identity. According to him, this measure is intended to prevent the use of photocopied or fraudulent Ghana Cards.
Speaking during a media engagement on March 17, 2026, Mr George emphasised that a wholesale migration of the old system would replicate existing problems, including fraudulent registrations. He said the new system, which includes eSIM technology, will help eliminate these challenges and provide a more secure platform for mobile users.
He added that the National Identification Authority (NIA) has warned institutions, including banks, to stop photocopying Ghana Cards due to the risk of identity theft and fraud.
The SIM re-registration exercise is expected to address multiple issues, including the proliferation of fraudulent SIM cards and the misuse of Ghana Cards.
Mr Sam George further highlighted the need to transition Ghanaians to eSIMs, stating that it would “kill two birds with one stone”.
