Previous SIM registration exercise was not done properly — Tanko Computer

Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), Rashid Tanko Computer, has said that the previous SIM re-registration exercise was flawed and failed to adequately address fraud.

The country's earlier SIM re-registration, carried out between 2021 and 2023, required all SIM cards to be linked to the Ghana Card through a two-step process involving self-registration and biometric verification.

The exercise was aimed at improving national security and reducing SIM-related crimes.

However, the Ministry of Communications has announced a new registration exercise scheduled to begin in June, citing the need to correct lapses in the earlier process.

Explaining the rationale behind the new exercise, Rashid Tanko said the previous registration lacked proper verification systems, creating loopholes for criminal activities.

“The previous registration was not a proper process of verifying the numbers, and that is what we are trying to prevent,” he said.

He noted that the absence of real-time verification with the National Identification Authority (NIA) database allowed individuals to register multiple SIM cards without proper authentication.

According to him, this weakness has contributed to rising mobile money fraud and other cyber-related crimes across the country.

“You can go to Circle right now and buy 10 SIM cards already registered, and that is why we have fraud all over the place,” he observed.

The GIFEC boss further disclosed that the new system will ensure closer collaboration between the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the NIA to enable real-time verification and authentication of users.

He said the upcoming exercise will also introduce a simplified process that allows users to verify their SIM cards using their mobile phones, while ensuring that each number is properly linked to a verified identity.

The new approach, he stressed, is expected to strengthen national security and curb fraudulent activities by ensuring that every SIM card is traceable to its rightful owner.