Government has approved a completely new nationwide SIM card registration exercise after an extensive review revealed major weaknesses in the previous process.
The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, disclosed that Cabinet had given the green light for the new exercise following concerns over data integrity, weak biometric enforcement and instances of registration fraud during the earlier registration campaign.
He made the announcement during high-level discussions with the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications and the National Communications Authority (NCA), where stakeholders also examined Ghana’s roadmap for the rollout of 5G services.
According to the Minister, the upcoming exercise will not be a continuation of the previous registration drive but rather a complete reset designed to restore credibility and strengthen security within the telecoms ecosystem.
Key features of the new registration framework
George explained that under the new framework, the National Communications Authority will serve as the central repository for all SIM registration data, while biometric verification will become mandatory.
He added that a Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) will be introduced to allow telecom operators to block stolen or fraud-linked devices across all networks.
A revised Legislative Instrument (L.I.) is also being prepared to regulate the exercise,” the Minister said.
Telecom operators at the meeting welcomed the planned reforms but raised some operational concerns, particularly around implementation and funding.
It is not yet clear when the new registration exercise will begin or who will bear the cost of executing it.
The exercise will mark Ghana’s second nationwide SIM registration campaign after the 2021 drive, which the current administration says was plagued by data inconsistencies and other operational challenges.
Government revises 5G rollout strategy
The meeting also addressed government’s strategy for deploying 5G services across the country.
George revealed that Cabinet has approved the removal of the exclusivity clause under the previous wholesale 5G framework. The decision clears the way for a competitive spectrum auction that will allow multiple operators to participate in the rollout.
However, he clarified that the wholesale model has not been scrapped entirely. Instead, the revised approach will adopt a network-based rollout aimed at ensuring wider and more inclusive deployment of 5G services.
As part of the new framework, government plans to conduct a fresh 5G spectrum auction, which officials say is expected to be concluded soon.
Telecom operators at the meeting highlighted the capital-intensive nature of 5G deployment, noting that it will require substantial investment in spectrum acquisition, network upgrades and infrastructure expansion.
They therefore called for reasonable spectrum pricing, policy certainty and streamlined regulatory approvals to support faster deployment.
Next steps
The discussions ended with an agreement for structured technical engagements between the Ministry, the National Communications Authority, the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications and telecom operators to refine the implementation framework for both the new SIM registration exercise and the planned 5G spectrum auction.
Immediate next steps include finalising the revised Legislative Instrument governing SIM registration and publishing documentation for the spectrum auction.
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