An audit of SIM card registrations carried out by the National Communications Authority between 2021 and 2023 has revealed that none of the fingerprints on file matched those in the national identity database, raising serious questions about the accuracy and credibility of subscriber information.

The findings were disclosed by the NCA Director-General, Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, during a stakeholder engagement on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. He explained that the audit is part of preparations for a nationwide SIM card re-registration exercise, designed to tighten verification processes and strengthen security.

“In June 2025, we sampled about 2 million registrations and cross-checked them against the National Identification Authority (NIA) database. We found that some SIM records could not be verified. As for fingerprints, there was zero match with biometric capture methods,” he said. “This is primarily because NIA captures fingerprints using contact methods, while SIM registration was done using contactless techniques.”

Mr. Fianko noted that other discrepancies were uncovered during the audit. “Some registrations contained incorrect identity details, some biometrics could not be confirmed, and inconsistencies were observed across systems,” he added.

Facial recognition checks fared better, though gaps remain. Out of 2.3 million registrations validated for facial data, 81.1% matched, while 18.9% did not. However, there was no liveness check to verify that the person presenting the SIM card was the rightful owner.

The revelations come even as nearly 40 million SIM cards have been registered nationwide. The NCA emphasised that the upcoming re-registration exercise will focus on closing these verification gaps by aligning SIM registration more closely with the NIA database and improving overall data accuracy.

Mr. Fianko urged all mobile subscribers to participate fully in the re-registration process, highlighting the importance of accurate data for national security and proper SIM subscription management.

The Cabinet has given the green light for a completely new SIM registration exercise following an extensive review of the previous process.

This was announced by the Communication Minister, Samuel Nartey George, during high-level discussions with the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications and the National Communications Authority on March 9.

Between 2021 and 2023, the erstwhile government ordered a SIM registration exercise in Ghana, which required all mobile subscribers to re‑register their SIM cards using the Ghana Card; an exercise aimed at checking fraud and enhancing national security, but was plagued by weak biometric enforcement, data inconsistencies, long queues, and widespread complaints, leaving many citizens frustrated and some SIMs blocked over incomplete processes or unsuccessful registration process.

Consequently, the Ningo Prampram MP revealed that the imminent exercise will not be a continuation of the previous one, which was undertaken by the former government, but will be a completely new reset exercise.

How different is this exercise from the previous one?

Detailing the difference between the previous registration and the yet to be conducted one, Mr Nartey noted that the imminent exercise will feature centralised data under the National Communications Authority, strict biometric enforcement, cross‑network fraud prevention, and new legislation

The Minister said, “A Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) will be introduced to enable cross-network blocking of stolen or fraud-linked devices”, adding that, “a revised Legislative Instrument (L.I.) is being prepared to regulate the exercise.”

Telecom operators who participated in the meeting welcomed the initiative but raised some operational concerns.

However, it is not yet clear when the new registration exercise will commence or who will bear the cost of implementing it.

Samuel Nartey George, has indicated that telecommunications companies will cover the entire cost of the upcoming SIM card registration process in Ghana.

In an interview on The Point of View on Channel One TV on Monday, April 14, Sam George emphasized his commitment to ensuring that telcos take on the financial responsibility for this essential registration, which he views as a key step in modernizing the country's telecommunications infrastructure.

He shared that plans are underway to introduce a Legislative Instrument (LI) to Parliament to formally establish this directive.

“They [telcos] will pay for it. I will make them pay for it. There is an LI that we will be laying before Parliament,” George said.

He also compared his approach to the SIM re-registration conducted under former Minister Ursula Owusu, criticizing the process during her tenure.

“That was one of my criticisms of Ursula Owusu—that the re-registration she did… and that is why I have been clear that I am not doing a re-registration. I am doing a SIM registration,” he clarified.

George explained that his initiative is not a continuation of the previous re-registration efforts but rather a complete SIM registration designed to create a credible and unified database, with the Ghana Card serving as the “single source of truth.”

He also highlighted that the existing SIM registration law, which dates back to 2010 under former Minister Haruna Iddrisu, was enacted before the Ghana Card was introduced.

“The last LI on the record for registration was 2010 by Haruna Iddrisu and don’t forget that registration Haruna did—there was no Ghana Card at the time and so there was no single source of truth,” George added.