NCA DG Assures Robust, Consumer-Centric Approach to New SIM Registration Process

March 17, 2026 -The Director-General of the National Communications Authority (NCA), Rev. Ing. Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, has assured the media that Ghana is taking decisive steps to strengthen its SIM registration regime, including the introduction of device control systems to ensure that every SIM card and mobile device on the country’s networks can be verified and traced when necessary.

Speaking at a media engagement organised by the Ministry for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations at the NCA Tower in Accra, the Director-General emphasised that the initiative forms part of broader efforts to enhance security, promote accountability, and safeguard the integrity of Ghana’s telecommunications ecosystem.

The session, which brought together key stakeholders including the National Identification Authority (NIA), was aimed at providing clarity on the upcoming SIM (Number) Registration Exercise and addressing concerns from the media and the public.

The Director-General noted that the implementation of the new process will be preceded by the completion of all necessary legal and technical frameworks. He stressed that the Authority is committed to undertaking extensive stakeholder consultations at every phase to ensure transparency, inclusiveness, and smooth execution.

He further underscored that consumer convenience remains a central pillar of the new system, assuring that both the legal framework and technical design will prioritise ease of access and user-friendly processes for subscribers.

In his remarks, the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Samuel Nartey George, indicated that the consumer would not bear any cost for the registration, as services rendered by the National Identification Authority (NIA) would be paid for by the telecommunications companies. He also dismissed claims about any purported contract, stressing that the planned system would be robust and, ideally, the final SIM registration exercise. He added that various stakeholders and state institutions had been engaged to ensure the success and sustainability of the process.

The Minister further spoke about the rigorous processes and scrutiny his proposal had undergone at the sub-committee and Cabinet levels, noting that significant work had been done behind the scenes to ensure that the upcoming SIM registration exercise would be as smooth as possible.

He commended the diligent work of the NCA, led by the Authority’s Director-General, Rev. Ing. Yirenkyi Fianko, and his team, in striving to safeguard consumers while making processes simpler for them. He also highlighted the presence of the Executive Secretary of the NIA, William Kwaku Deku, noting that it underscored the importance of the government’s initiative. He added that while government had provided policy direction, the technical implementation had been entrusted to the NCA and the NIA to execute without interference.

Key Takeaways and Brief on the Upcoming SIM (Number) Registration Exercise

Key takeaways from the media engagement highlighted that consumer convenience is central to both the legal framework and technical implementation of the new SIM (Number) registration process. Authorities also indicated that the accessibility and convenience of National ID registration have been significantly enhanced to support the exercise, with the official start date to be announced in due course.

The National Communications Authority (NCA), in collaboration with the National Identification Authority (NIA), is set to undertake a new SIM (Number) Registration Exercise aimed at strengthening the integrity of Ghana’s telecommunications ecosystem. Unlike previous exercises that focused on SIM cards, the upcoming process will register individual phone numbers and link each to a verified identity. This initiative is critical to protecting citizens from fraud, enhancing national security, preventing identity misuse, and enabling the blocking of stolen or illegal devices through integration with the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR).

The exercise is informed by identified gaps in the existing SIM registration database. A validation exercise conducted between 17th and 26th June 2025, in collaboration with the NIA, revealed several discrepancies, including SIM records that could not be verified against the NIA database, incorrect identity information, unverifiable biometric data, and inconsistencies between datasets. These findings underscored the need for a more robust and reliable registration system.

To address these challenges, Government is introducing key measures, including updates to the SIM (number) registration legal framework, strengthened identity verification processes, improved data validation with the NIA, and systems to detect and block illegal or stolen devices. The new approach will prioritise convenience for consumers, ensuring a more seamless and user-friendly registration process while maintaining high standards of data accuracy and security.

The start date for the new process will be announced in due course.