The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has assured Parliament that the government’s renewed SIM re-registration exercise will be seamless, secure and free for all citizens.

He gave the assurance while briefing the Parliamentary Select Committee on Information and Communication as part of ongoing stakeholder engagements ahead of the nationwide rollout.

The exercise is being undertaken in collaboration with the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the National Identification Authority (NIA).

In a statement posted on Facebook, the Ministry said the Minister outlined key improvements in the new system, including real-time biometric verification, mandatory audit trails and stricter accountability measures to track SIM registration activities and identify responsible agents.

He stressed that Mobile Network Operators will not pass any registration-related costs onto subscribers, reaffirming that the process will remain entirely free.

Under the new framework, Ghanaian citizens will register using the Ghana Card, while foreign residents will use the Non-Citizen Ghana Card. Refugees will present the Refugee Non-Citizen ID, and visitors or tourists will be required to provide a valid passport and proof of entry.

Diplomats will use official identification, while corporate entities will register with a certificate of incorporation and the Ghana Card of an authorised signatory.

The Minister explained that SIM cards will only be activated after successful real-time biometric verification against the NIA database, ensuring every active SIM is linked to a verified identity.

Additional features include support for both Android and iOS devices, self-registration options for eSIM and physical SIMs, remote SIM delinking, and real-time validation of diplomatic and corporate records.

The system will also incorporate device verification through the Central Equipment Identity Register operated by the NCA.

Mr George noted that the enhanced system is designed to strengthen national security, reduce identity fraud and curb the use of unregistered or stolen devices.

He added that strengthened verification protocols would address concerns over fake Ghana Cards, while the introduction of One-Time Password (OTP) authentication would ensure that SIM registration is completed only with the consent of the rightful owner.

On the issue of inactive or non-compliant SIMs, particularly those belonging to foreign nationals, he disclosed that such numbers would be subject to a 90-day validity period or aligned with the individual’s legal stay, with automated systems to deactivate non-compliant lines.

The Minister also highlighted collaboration with key institutions, including the Bank of Ghana and the Data Protection Commission, to align the exercise with financial and data protection regulations.

The Chairperson of the Committee, Bandim Lamangin Abed-Nego, commended the Ministry for its proactive engagement and detailed briefing, stressing the need for transparency, public trust and sustained education to ensure nationwide compliance.