No guarantee new SIM re-registration will fix past flaws — Solomon Owusu

National Communications Director of the United Party (UP), Solomon Owusu, has raised concerns about the effectiveness of the upcoming SIM re-registration exercise.

He argued that there is no guarantee it will address existing challenges.

The Ministry of Communications has announced a new nationwide SIM registration expected to begin in June, citing gaps in the previous exercise conducted between 2021 and 2023.

The sector minister, Samuel Nartey George, has stated that the new process will enhance security and reduce fraud.

However, Owusu argued that instead of initiating a fresh exercise, government should have identified and corrected the loopholes in the earlier registration.

Speaking on Accra-based TV3’s New Day show on Wednesday, March 18, he criticised the previous exercise as poorly executed and questioned the rationale behind repeating the process.

He noted that despite assurances that the earlier exercise would curb criminal activities, fraud; particularly mobile money scams, appears to be on the rise.

The UP spokesperson further expressed concern about the reliance on digital platforms for the new registration.

He noted that not all Ghanaians have access to smartphones or the digital literacy required to complete the process independently.

“So it means what we did in the past did not serve any purpose, but then there is no assurance that today, too, they can do it comprehensively,” he stated.

He added that many people may resort to third parties for assistance, potentially exposing their personal data to abuse.

He urged regulators, including the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the National Identification Authority (NIA), to collaborate effectively and fix systemic issues rather than repeatedly subjecting Ghanaians to re-registration exercises.