Ensure compliance with SIM card registration – Gov’t to stakeholders

Government has cautioned all actors within the SIM registration value chain including subscribers and agents of mobile network operators to ensure compliance with the SIM registration and activation processes in line with the relevant statutory provisions.

Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah at a press briefing in Accra disclosed that government through the Ministry of Communications had taken note with concerns of a number of deficiencies with the existing SIM card registration regime in Ghana.

Mr. Nkrumah said the concerns include the sale of pre-registered SIM cards, the use of pre-registered SIM cards, and the use of fraudulently registered SIM cards.

“These deficiencies give way to fraudulent activities to be perpetuated through the use of mobile phones such as mobile money fraud, illegal SIM swap, Termination of international traffic (SIM-Boxing) leading to loss of revenue to the state, Impersonation and Cyber-crime. With government’s commitment to migrate towards a formalised digital economy as part of the Digital Ghana Agenda (DGA), it is important for the communications industry to ensure the integrity of an integrated database and systems. This will also build security, trust and confidence for the use of digital services” he said.

The Minister said while government partner the relevant institutions for the complete roll out of the National Identification cards for SIM registration, the National Communications Authority (NCA) will ensure strict compliance with the law and engage MNOs and all relevant stakeholders to address these deficiencies.