The Director-General of the National Communications Authority, Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, has indicated that the government’s decision to conduct another SIM re-registration exercise is intended to correct irregularities identified in earlier registration processes.

The announcement follows government plans to roll out a fresh nationwide SIM re-registration exercise as part of efforts to strengthen the integrity of subscriber information and improve regulatory oversight within the telecommunications sector.

According to the NCA, the new initiative is expected to address weaknesses observed during previous exercises and ensure that all mobile subscribers are properly identified and verified using credible national identification systems.

Mr Fianko explained that the upcoming exercise will represent the third official SIM registration process undertaken in Ghana.

He noted that the first registration exercise, which took place in 2011, encountered several difficulties largely because there was no effective system in place to verify identification documents submitted by subscribers.

He further stated that the second registration exercise introduced the requirement for subscribers to use the National Identification Authority’s national identification card for SIM registration.

However, he indicated that the process was not fully completed, as the final stage of biometric validation was not carried out.

“There are cases including fake photos, the same name but a different person. We saw fake IDs used to register,” Mr Fianko said.

He explained that the new exercise seeks to establish a more reliable system that will allow subscriber information to be properly verified and eliminate such irregularities.

Mr Fianko made the remarks in an interview with Channel One TV on Monday, March 9.