MoCD: National SIM Card re-registration starts next month

The Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation (MoCD) will starts the National SIM Card re-registration exercise across the country next month, October. This information was announced by the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful in a press center monitored by TheGhanaTech.com.

“Only the National Identity Card (Ghana Card) issued to an individual shall be used for the registration of the SIM cards of citizens, foreign residents and foreigners staying in Ghana for more than ninety (90) days”, said the minister. She further explained that in the case of foreigners staying in Ghana for less than ninety (90) days, a valid passport or other travel document is required.

Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful stated that “this is not the first attempt to register sims but all the previous efforts failed because of the lack of a verifiable secure identification document”.

She also indicated that the above situation also led to the influx of pre-registered SIM Cards in the system hence our inability to track and trace people who commit crimes with the SIM Cards.

“The prevalence of fake IDs and non-existent system of verifying the IDs led to unscrupulous individuals procuring hundreds of SIM Cards for SIM Boxing leading to the loss of revenue for the state. The Ghana card provides the basis for a successful SIM registration exercise this time”, said Mrs. Ursula.

The Subscriber Identity Module Registration Regulations, 2011, L.l 2006 mandates network operators or service providers to activate a subscriber Identity Module (SIM) only after the subscriber registers the SIM as directed by the National Communications Authority (NCA).

Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful also made a statement that “SIM registration, when undertaken correctly as we intend to do, will reduce or eliminate fraudulent and criminal activities, help authorities ascertain the accurate number of valid and accurate SIMs on the networks, enable operators to build better demographics of their customer base and help them develop products and services to suit the various groupings”.

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“The Regulator, National Communications Authority NCA, will also get more accurate data to regulate the industry even better, and also existing subscribers will register their SIMs via USSD and a SIM registration App,” said Minister.

“The Registration will also enhance economic growth as more confidence is built in the telecommunications sector and people utilize secure devices to access E-Government services and other private mobile-based digital solutions,” Mrs. Ursula added.