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The Minister-Designate for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovation, Sam Nartey George, has announced plans to introduce a new and improved SIM card re-registration process to address inefficiencies encountered during the previous exercise.
During his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee, Sam George criticized the 2022 SIM re-registration process, which required Ghanaians to endure long queues at Mobile Network Operator (MNO) offices to link their SIM cards with their Ghana Cards. He described the approach as flawed and a waste of productive hours, which negatively impacted the economy.
Outlining his strategy, Sam George assured that under his leadership, the new re-registration process would be efficient, technology-driven, and free of long queues. He emphasized the importance of leveraging existing biometric databases from the National Identification Authority (NIA) to cross-reference data, ensuring a seamless experience for citizens.
“We have a National Identification Authority that holds and sits as our national repository of biometric data. I think it was wickedness of the highest order to subject Ghanaians to long hours of queue, taking away productive man-hours, just because egos could not be managed,” he stated.
He further explained that instead of requiring all SIM card users to re-submit biometric details, only individuals with inconsistencies or mismatches in their data would be required to visit an MNO office for verification.
“We will do a proper SIM re-registration exercise again, but this time, nobody is going to queue. Common sense will prevail, expertise will prevail, and logic will work.”
Sam George also highlighted the need for telecom operators to have accurate data on SIM card users, stressing that the current system does not fully verify the identity of users.
“As we speak, the telcos cannot truly verify who is holding their SIM card. It is even in their own interest for us to do this process properly.”
His remarks suggest a commitment to enhancing digital security, improving customer experience, and eliminating the inefficiencies of the previous re-registration process.
The announcement has been met with mixed reactions, with some Ghanaians welcoming the move, while others question the necessity of another re-registration exercise. However, the proposed changes could mark a significant improvement in digital identity verification and telecommunications security in Ghana.
