The government has unveiled a sweeping new SIM registration regime with tough sanctions aimed at crippling mobile money (MoMo) fraud and rendering stolen mobile phones useless across all networks in Ghana.
The comprehensive strategy, which includes blocking the Ghana Cards of repeat offenders and the introduction of a national database to disable stolen devices, was detailed at a stakeholder engagement in Accra on Tuesday.
The Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Mr. Samuel Nartey George, outlined the stiff penalties for those who abuse the system, warning that the consequences would extend far beyond losing a SIM card.
Under the new framework, any Ghana Card linked to fraudulent SIM registrations connected to mobile money fraud on more than one occasion will be permanently barred from accessing telecommunications services.
“If the same Ghana Card is found to be involved in more than one fraudulent registration of a number used in mobile money fraud, that Ghana Card will be blocked and barred from being able to register a SIM in the country,” Mr. George stated. “Which means that you can no longer get telecom services.”
He emphasized that this sanction would have a crippling effect on fraudsters, as the Ghana Card is now an essential credential for accessing most public services, including banking, passport applications, and more. “Today, almost every government service requires your Ghana Card. So the cost to mobile money fraudsters is being raised to a level that will make it prohibitive,” he added.
The Minister issued a strong plea to the public to guard their personal information jealously and resist any requests to register SIM cards for others. “I beseech all consumers, protect your personal identity. Don’t register SIMs for someone else,” he said.
A ‘RED’ STATUS FOR STOLEN PHONES
In a move to tackle the rampant theft of mobile phones, the Director-General of the National Communications Authority (NCA), Rev. Ing. Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, announced the establishment of a Central Equipment Identity Register.
This system will assign a status to every mobile device:
· Green: Cleared for use on all networks.
· Yellow: Devices with issues will be flagged, giving users time for resolution.
· Red: Blocked devices will be completely unable to connect to any network in the country.
“The objective is to have a system that allows stolen or illegal mobile phones to be blocked from all networks,” Rev. Fianko explained. “There will be no incentive to take somebody’s phone.” By integrating the equipment registers of all mobile network operators into a single national database, the system will prevent stolen devices from being reactivated on a different network.
PRIMARY NUMBER VERIFICATION TO PREVENT ABUSE
To further curb SIM registration fraud, Mr. George announced the implementation of a primary number verification system. Under this arrangement, a subscriber’s primary phone number will be used to approve any additional SIM registrations tied to the same Ghana Card via a one-time password. This creates an auditable trail and ensures accountability. “Once you have confirmed, you can’t deny the registration,” Mr. George stated firmly. “So don’t do it for somebody else.”
NO CONTRACT AWARDED YET, COSTS TO BE BORNE BY OPERATORS
Addressing concerns about the procurement process, Mr. George dismissed claims that a contract had already been awarded to a private company, stressing that the process is still before the Public Procurement Authority. He challenged anyone with evidence to the contrary, stating, “If anyone can show one page of a contract, I will resign as minister.”
He also clarified that no public funds would be used to pay the technical provider. The costs associated with the registration, including biometric verification with the National Identification Authority (NIA), will be borne by the mobile network operators as part of their regulatory obligations.
NIA TO BOOST ACCESS TO GHANA CARDS
Recognizing that a valid Ghana Card is the cornerstone of the new registration, the Executive Secretary of the NIA, Mr. Wisdom Kwaku Deku, announced plans to deploy registration teams alongside mobile network operators to improve access, particularly in rural areas. He noted that the NIA now operates 294 district offices nationwide, compared to just seven during the previous exercise, and that approximately 90% of Ghanaians now possess the card. Additional registration points will include Ghana Post offices and Community Information Centres.
REGISTRATION TO COMMENCE AFTER LEGAL FRAMEWORK IS SET
Mr. George confirmed that the new Legislative Instrument (L.I.) governing the exercise has not yet been laid before Parliament and that the registration will only commence after the mandatory 21-day parliamentary process is complete. “For me, anything that doesn’t have a legal framework is illegal. We are not starting until the legal framework is in place,” he said, expressing confidence that the exercise would begin before the end of 2026.
Under the new regime, Ghanaian citizens will register using the Ghana Card, while foreign residents must present a non-citizen Ghana Card. Tourists will be issued SIM cards valid for 90 days.
