Telcos CEO Urges Caution, Stakeholder Engagement Ahead of New SIM Re-Registration

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, Sylvia Owusu-Ankomah, is calling for extensive stakeholder consultation and careful planning ahead of Ghana’s next nationwide SIM re-registration exercise.

Her caution follows Cabinet’s approval of a fresh SIM registration initiative aimed at strengthening subscriber identification and tightening regulatory oversight in the telecommunications sector.

Speaking in an interview, Madam Owusu-Ankomah stressed that authorities must draw lessons from previous exercises, which were plagued by long queues, technical setbacks, and widespread public frustration.

Ghana has undertaken two major SIM registration exercises in the past, including a recent one that introduced stricter identification requirements. However, implementation challenges raised concerns about efficiency and user experience.

She noted that while telecom operators are ready to support the government’s plans, the process must be transparent, well-structured, and backed by a clear legal framework approved by Parliament before rollout.

“We support efforts to build a robust national identification system, but the process must avoid the chaos and discomfort experienced in previous exercises,” she said.

Madam Owusu-Ankomah revealed that industry players have already engaged the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations and the National Communications Authority (NCA) on the proposed exercise.

She emphasized that addressing past bottlenecks—especially congestion at registration centres and technological inefficiencies—will be critical to ensuring a smoother process this time.

Beyond operational concerns, the telcos CEO cautioned against the assumption that SIM registration alone can eliminate fraud in Ghana’s telecom and mobile money space.

According to her, most fraud cases are driven by social engineering tactics, where criminals impersonate trusted institutions or individuals to deceive victims into revealing sensitive information such as PINs.

“SIM registration is not a silver bullet for fraud,” she said. “The real issue is social engineering, where people are manipulated into disclosing confidential information.”

She underscored the importance of personal responsibility, urging consumers to safeguard their Mobile Money PINs and other sensitive details.

“Your PIN is sacred. Protecting it is the most effective way to prevent fraud,” she added.

Despite its limitations, Madam Owusu-Ankomah acknowledged that SIM registration remains important for accountability. By linking SIM cards to the national identification database, authorities can trace individuals involved in criminal activities.

She, however, warned against the use of pre-registered SIM cards, noting that such practices defeat the purpose of the exercise and expose users to serious risks.

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“If you use a SIM card registered in someone else’s name, any crime linked to that number could implicate you,” she cautioned.

She further stressed the need for strong public education to accompany the exercise, ensuring that consumers understand both the benefits and responsibilities of SIM ownership.

Madam Owusu-Ankomah said collaboration among regulators, telecom operators, and the public will be key to the success of the exercise.

She expressed optimism that with improved planning, stakeholder engagement, and sustained public awareness, Ghana’s upcoming SIM re-registration exercise can be more efficient, less disruptive, and better aligned with the country’s growing digital economy.