Sam George Announces Fresh Nationwide SIM Registration After Cabinet Approval

The Minister for Communications, Samuel Nartey George, has announced that Cabinet has approved a completely new nationwide SIM registration exercise after a thorough assessment of the previous process.

According to the Minister, the earlier registration drive was affected by several challenges, including weak biometric verification, inconsistencies in collected data, and instances of fraudulent registrations.

He made the disclosure during high-level discussions involving the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications and the National Communications Authority. The meeting focused on preparations for the new SIM registration exercise and the roadmap for the rollout of 5G technology in Ghana.

Mr George explained that the upcoming registration will not simply continue the previous exercise but will instead represent a complete restart designed to restore confidence in the system and enhance security measures.

### Key features of the new SIM registration

During the meeting, the Minister highlighted major elements of the revised registration framework and the outcomes expected from the process.

He stated that the National Communications Authority will act as the central repository for all SIM registration data, while biometric verification will be compulsory under the new system.

In addition, a Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) will be introduced to enable telecom networks to block stolen or fraud-related mobile devices across different networks.

Mr George also revealed that a revised Legislative Instrument (L.I.) is currently being prepared to regulate the new registration exercise.

Telecommunication companies that participated in the discussions welcomed the initiative, although they raised some operational concerns regarding its implementation. Authorities are yet to announce when the new exercise will begin or who will bear the financial cost of the rollout.

The exercise will represent Ghana’s second nationwide SIM registration campaign after the one conducted in 2021, which the current administration says faced multiple challenges.

### Government outlines revised 5G strategy

On the rollout of 5G services, the Minister indicated that Cabinet has approved the removal of the exclusivity clause that previously governed the wholesale 5G framework.

The decision will pave the way for a competitive spectrum auction process involving multiple operators.

Mr George clarified that the wholesale model itself has not been scrapped. Instead, the updated framework will support a network-based rollout to ensure universal access across telecom operators.

A new 5G spectrum auction is expected to take place soon, with plans to coordinate the rollout carefully to avoid distortions within the telecommunications market.

However, telecom operators at the meeting pointed out that deploying 5G technology will require heavy financial investment, including costs related to spectrum acquisition, network upgrades, and infrastructure development.

They called for fair spectrum pricing, consistent policy direction, and simplified regulatory approvals to support faster deployment.

The discussions also addressed broader reforms approved by Cabinet to enhance national security, improve service quality, and accelerate Ghana’s digital transformation.

Participants agreed to hold structured technical engagements between the Ministry, the National Communications Authority, the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, and telecom operators to refine the implementation framework for both the SIM registration exercise and the upcoming 5G spectrum auction.

Immediate next steps include finalising the revised Legislative Instrument and publishing the documentation for the planned spectrum auction.