Individuals in Ghana who register SIM cards on behalf of others may face blacklisting from essential public and financial services under a new digital security policy, warns Samuel Nartey George, the Minister of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovation. In an interview with ChannelOne TV last March, the Minister announced that the government is implementing a stricter SIM registration framework that will link biometric data from the Ghana Card directly to mobile devices. This change aims to make it more difficult to evade detection in cases of fraud.
He explained that the new system is designed to eliminate the thriving black market for pre-registered SIM cards, where buyers pay a premium for already activated numbers registered under unknown names. Once the upgraded system is fully implemented, such practices will no longer be possible.
Mr George explained that under the new arrangement, every SIM card, mobile device and Ghana Card will be integrated into a central monitoring system, enabling authorities to track fraudulent activity more effectively. Unlike the current system, where offenders simply discard blocked SIM cards and acquire new ones, the revised framework will extend sanctions to the devices used.
He revealed that when a SIM card is implicated in fraud, both the SIM and the associated mobile device will be blocked using the device’s unique identification number. This, he said, would render the handset unusable and significantly raise the cost of engaging in mobile-related crimes. In addition, the system will introduce a colour-coded monitoring mechanism to track user compliance. Individuals whose records are clean will be marked “green”, while those linked to suspicious activity will be flagged “yellow”. A second confirmed offence associated with a user’s Ghana Card will result in a “red” status, effectively blacklisting the individual.
Mr George stressed that even individuals who do not directly commit fraud could face sanctions if they register SIM cards on behalf of others who later engage in criminal activity. He warned that such actions could have severe consequences, including the loss of access to essential services.
The Minister explained that once a Ghana Card is blacklisted, the holder may be denied access to banking services, the renewal of driver’s licenses, and healthcare services that require identity verification. “We are raising the cost of fraud,” he said, urging the public to avoid registering SIM cards for others.
He also noted that the new framework will enhance accountability within Ghana’s digital ecosystem by ensuring that every SIM card can be traced back to a verified individual and device. This initiative aims to strengthen efforts in combating mobile money fraud and related crimes. He reiterated his call for vigilance, warning that individuals who allow their personal identification to be used for SIM registration risk becoming involved in criminal investigations, even if they are not directly responsible.
Source: GraphicOnline
