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The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has announced that in addition to implementing a proper SIM re-registration process, the government will also introduce a national mobile device registration system.
This initiative aims to enhance the fight against digital fraud, particularly mobile money fraud, by ensuring that both SIM cards and the devices they are used in are properly registered.
During his vetting in Parliament, Sam George criticised the 2021-2022 SIM re-registration exercise carried out under the previous administration, describing it as illogical and ineffective.
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He argued that despite the tedious re-registration process, telecom operators (telcos) are still unable to trace criminals who use SIM cards for fraudulent activities.
“Even after all the time Ghanaians spent re-registering their SIM cards, mobile money fraud has continued without significant arrests,” he noted. Reports from the Bank of Ghana indicate that fraud in the mobile money sector remains high, with almost no successful prosecutions linked to the re-registration exercise.
Speaking on Joy News’ Newsfile, Sam George outlined the government’s revised approach to SIM re-registration. Instead of requiring citizens to queue and provide their biometrics again, technology will be leveraged to link existing telco data with the National Identification Authority (NIA) database.
“Out of over 38 million active SIM cards in Ghana today, we expect that only about two million will have issues,” he explained. “Telcos will notify holders of these SIMs via SMS to update their details. Most of these are pre-registered SIMs likely used by fraudsters who may not come forward—so those SIMs will be deactivated.”
To strengthen the fight against mobile money fraud, Sam George emphasised the need to register not only SIM cards but also the devices in which they are used.
“Every mobile device has an IMEI number—a unique identifier,” he said. “We will establish a national register of all mobile devices and their respective IMEI numbers. This way, when a crime is committed with a particular SIM card, we can trace both the SIM and the device.”
Under this system, if a fraudster’s SIM card is blocked, the device used for the crime could also be blocked, preventing them from simply inserting another SIM to continue fraudulent activities.
“This will make digital fraud more expensive for criminals because they will risk losing both their SIM and device,” the minister added.
Beyond combating fraud, a national device register offers multiple benefits:
- Authentication of Mobile Devices—Industry stakeholders and regulators will be able to verify the authenticity of mobile devices in Ghana, helping to identify and eliminate counterfeit products. Since no two devices can have the same IMEI number, this system will ensure that only legitimate devices are in circulation.
- Tracking Stolen Phones—The system will make it easier to trace stolen mobile devices, even if they are switched off. This could significantly deter phone theft and black-market sales.
- Integration with Global Registers—Ghana’s device register will be linked to international databases, enabling authorities to trace stolen devices even when they are shipped across borders. Whether a phone is stolen in Ghana and taken abroad or vice versa, its location can still be identified.
According to Techfocus24, the process to establish the national device register has already begun, with government agencies working to make it operational as soon as possible.
Sam George is confident that with the combination of proper SIM re-registration and device registration, Ghana will make significant strides in reducing mobile money and digital fraud.
“The goal is to make digital fraud unprofitable and inconvenient for criminals,” he concluded. “With these measures, we can bring the fight to the fraudsters and protect Ghanaians from financial scams.”
As the initiative progresses, citizens can expect further updates on how the device registration process will be rolled out.
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