Accra, December 2025 — Ghana’s Minister for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Sam Nartey George, has announced that a new nationwide SIM registration exercise will begin in the first quarter of 2026. He argued that the previous registration under the former administration was invalid, citing weak biometric verification and a lack of legal backing.
George explained that the earlier process failed to properly cross-reference biometric data with the national database, undermining its credibility. He assured that a new Legislative Instrument will soon be laid before Parliament to provide legal grounding, while the Public Procurement Authority is finalizing the selection of a service provider. The new system, he said, will be human-centred and technology-driven to avoid queues and inefficiencies.
The announcement has sparked debate. Franklin Cudjoe, founding president of IMANI Africa, raised questions about the necessity of the exercise, the fate of old data, and whether biometrics would be taken.
Responding, Wisdom Yayra Koku Deku, Acting CEO of the National Identification Authority (NIA), clarified that the exercise is necessary to uniquely identify SIM owners. He noted that the old system only verified Ghana Card PINs without biometric authentication, leaving much of the data unreliable. He added that while no new biometrics will be collected, verification will be done against the NIA system to ensure authenticity.
Deku, who was reappointed in January 2025 after previously serving at the NIA, emphasized that the new registration is the only way to restore integrity to Ghana’s SIM database. He pledged reforms to strengthen citizen data management and digital identity infrastructure.
Observers warn that while the fresh registration may inconvenience subscribers, it is expected to curb SIM-related fraud and provide legal clarity for telecom operators and users. The government insists the exercise will be conducted smoothly, with appointments to prevent overcrowding at registration centres.
Local Firm Offers AI Solution
Dr. Amos Oppong, CEO and Co-Founder of DapsCnect, has cautioned that Ghana’s upcoming SIM registration exercise could face significant hurdles due to poor data quality and inconsistencies between records held by the National Identification Authority (NIA) and telecommunications companies.
According to Dr. Oppong, even minor discrepancies — such as a single character difference in subscriber information — could complicate data integration, leading to costly inefficiencies. He further noted that the Ghana Card database, which underpins the registration process, remains limited in scope, raising concerns about the sustainability of the system.
To address these challenges, Dr. Oppong highlighted the readiness of DapsCnect, a Ghanaian-owned technology company, which has developed an advanced artificial intelligence solution known as DapsAI. The system is capable of detecting and correcting 99.99% of data errors, even at the character level, within seconds. Unlike conventional data-cleaning tools, DapsAI captures anomalies often overlooked, making it suitable for large datasets managed by the NIA, the National Communications Authority (NCA), and telecom operators.
Dr. Oppong explained that DapsCnect’s platform can securely store over 100,000 data points per individual, ensuring robust identity management. The solution is industry-ready and available both as a web and mobile application. Distributed in more than 170 countries via the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, the platform also enables Ghanaians abroad to participate in SIM registration seamlessly.
He emphasized that adopting such innovative technology would not only safeguard data integrity but also enhance efficiency and trust in Ghana’s digital identity ecosystem.
