Officials describe it not merely as a “re-registration” but as a fresh, comprehensive SIM/number registration to create a clean, reliable database—citing serious flaws in the previous 2021–2023 exercise conducted under the prior administration. Why This Exercise?

• Previous process deemed ineffective: President John Dramani Mahama and Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George (Sam George) have publicly stated that the last registration produced unreliable data, with weak biometrics, fake Ghana Cards, multiple SIMs linked to single IDs, and poor integration with the National Identification Authority (NIA) database. A sample audit of ~2.3 million records reportedly showed zero successful full biometric matches in some checks.
• Rising fraud and security concerns: Authorities link unverified or poorly registered SIMs to increased SIM-swap fraud, mobile money (MoMo) scams, identity theft, and SIM-box operations used for criminal activities. The new system aims to curb these by tying every phone number directly to verified biometric Ghana Card data.
• Broader goals: Strengthen national digital security, enable better tracking of devices via a new Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) for blocking stolen phones across networks, introduce a “primary number” security feature (to alert users if their ID is used elsewhere), and build public confidence in the telecom ecosystem.

Key Features of the 2026 Exercise

• Full integration with Ghana Card: Live biometric verification (fingerprints, facial, etc.) against the NIA database. Focus shifts from registering SIM cards to registering individual phone numbers.

• Convenience-focused design: Emphasis on self-service portals, digital/app-based registration, USSD/short-code options, and updates without long queues (lessons from past exercises). No physical visits required for simple updates in many cases.

• Additional security layers:
  • Linkage to IMEI (device identifier) for better device tracking.
  • Central NCA repository for all registration records.
  • Provisions for “genuine need” limits on multiple SIMs per person.
  • Stricter user consent and data protection measures.

• Cost: Free for subscribers/taxpayers. Telecom companies (telcos like MTN) will bear the costs, though some analysts worry these may eventually be passed on indirectly.
• “Final” exercise?: Minister Sam George has assured Ghanaians this will be the last such comprehensive registration if executed properly, with a robust legal framework (new Legislative Instrument) in place first.

Timeline and Rollout

• Cabinet approved the process in early March 2026.
• Procurement of service providers is underway.
• Official start expected in Q1 2026, with a possible phased approach.
• Existing SIMs will likely have a grace period (details still emerging) before any deactivation for non-compliance.

Reactions and Criticisms

• Support: From NCA, telcos (e.g., MTN Ghana backs a phased approach for security), and the government. Seen as necessary to modernize the system and fight fraud.
• Skepticism and opposition:
  • Think tank IMANI Ghana warns of repeating 15+ years of policy failures: poor inter-agency coordination, data protection risks, procurement opacity (“katanomics”), and unnecessary blanket re-collection when ~80% of SIMs may already be linkable. They advocate a targeted “verify-and-forget” model instead of full re-registration to minimize disruption and cost.
    modernghana.com
  • Concerns over potential economic impact (past exercises deactivated millions of SIMs and froze mobile money), rural access challenges, elderly/digital literacy issues, and privacy risks from a centralized biometric database.

• • Political undertones: Some view it as the new NDC administration resetting the previous NPP-era process; others question the frequency (this would be the third major exercise in ~15 years).

The NCA and Ministry have held stakeholder engagements (including with telcos and data protection bodies) and promise robust privacy safeguards, with the Data Protection Commission involved. This fits Ghana’s ongoing push for a more secure digital identity ecosystem, similar to efforts in other countries linking mobile numbers to national IDs.

• Backers: Strong support from the African Union (around 40 members as AU Champion on Reparations), Caribbean states, and some Latin American countries (e.g., Brazil has signaled backing). Ghana’s Permanent Representative Samuel Yao Kumah has urged member states to back it as an act of historical accountability.
• Opposition/Criticism: Some European governments resist, arguing modern states bear no legal liability for actions centuries ago and that labeling it the singular “gravest” crime invites comparisons with other atrocities (e.g., Holocaust, genocides, other slaveries). Critics question why it specifies “transatlantic” when slavery existed widely across history and continents, including intra-African involvement in the trade.

Historical Context