A member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Communication Team in Tema Central, Richard Anning, has strongly criticised government’s decision to embark on a new nationwide SIM card registration exercise, describing the move as a “Machiavellian tactic to steal from Ghanaians.”
Speaking on Plan B FM’s “Nkosuo Nsem” programme hosted by Obidehye Kofi Sekyi, Mr. Anning argued that the planned exercise is unnecessary and could lead to the misuse of public resources.
He further accused the Minister for Communications, Sam George of previously ridiculing former Communications Minister Ursula Owusu over the SIM re-registration exercise undertaken during the previous administration.
According to him, instead of initiating another registration exercise, government should rather engage telecommunications companies to address the growing number of fraudulent activities linked to SIM cards.
Mr. Anning insisted that the proposed SIM registration exercise is irrelevant, adding that resources could be better utilised by strengthening oversight within the telecom sector to curb SIM-related fraud.
His comments come after Communications Minister Sam George announced that Cabinet has approved a completely new SIM registration exercise following what he described as an extensive review of the previous process.
The Minister explained that the earlier registration exercise faced several challenges, including weak biometric enforcement, data inconsistencies and cases of registration fraud.
Mr. George made the disclosure during high-level discussions with the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications and the National Communications Authority, where issues surrounding the new SIM registration exercise and the roadmap for the rollout of 5G technology in Ghana were discussed.
He emphasised that the new registration system will not be a continuation of the previous process but rather a complete reset aimed at restoring credibility and strengthening security within the SIM registration framework.
According to the Minister, the National Communications Authority will serve as the central repository of all SIM registration data, while biometric verification will become mandatory under the new system.
He also revealed that a Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) will be introduced to enable telecom operators to block stolen or fraud-linked mobile devices across networks.
In addition, a revised Legislative Instrument (L.I.) is currently being prepared to regulate the exercise.
Telecommunication operators who participated in the meeting welcomed the government’s initiative but also raised operational concerns regarding the implementation of the new registration system.
However, Mr. Anning maintains that government should prioritise direct engagement with telecom companies to tackle SIM-related fraud, rather than subjecting Ghanaians to another nationwide SIM registration exercise.
By: Bernard Mensah | Planbfmonline.com
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