Joe Anokye, the director general of the National Communication Authority (NCA), has said Ghana’s sim database has not been breached.
Anokye said the country now has a sim database that has integrity.
There were fears among Ghanaians that the country’s sim database could be breached especially when there is no shortcode to verify the phone numbers linked to their Ghana Cards.
There has, however, been a call for a common and simple system that will allow Ghanaians to verify the phone numbers linked to their Ghana Cards.
But the NCA said a new shortcode will be provided by the end of this month (April) for subscribers to verify phone numbers linked to their Ghana Cards.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday (26 April), Anokye said, “It is important to note that Ghana, now has a sim database that has integrity.”
“Every active registered sim in the current SIM registration database can be traced to a unique Ghana Card. We can now state that Ghana has a single central SIM register as mandated by Executive Instrument 63, 2020.”
He added, “We wish to assure the general public that the sim database has not been breached”
The director general of the NCA said, the mobile network operators (MNOs) have been directed to discontinue using their legacy platform for sim registration to prevent illegal registrations.
Sim re-registration
The re-registration of mobile phone sim cards was announced by the government in September 2021 as a measure to help stem fraud and criminal activity by means of mobile telecommunication devices and systems in Ghana.
The registration exercise was expected to cover about 40 million subscribers, after which all unregistered sim cards were to be blocked.
When it was announced in 2021, the plan was to register sim cards concurrently with the registration of handsets and equipment, although that phase of the exercise is yet to manifest.
The challenge in acquiring a Ghana Card, the only form of ID admitted for the re-registration exercise, was the main excuse subscribers cited for why they were unable to go through the process successfully.
The technical difficulty of slow networks was another challenge as subscribers thronged the various offices of the telecommunication companies in an effort to get their cards re-registered.
Justifying the exercise, the NCA said it would help secure sim card-based transactions, as well as help determine, at every point in time, the accurate number of valid and accurate sims on the telco networks.
Also, for operators, the exercise will enable them to build better demographic profiles of their customer base and help them develop products and services to suit the various groupings.
In the case of the regulator, the NCA, the exercise will help it to use the data generated to regulate the industry even better.
Economically, the sim re-registration will enhance growth and gradually formalise the informal sector, as many more people will now be able to access e-government services and other, private e-services.
In addition, the sim registration will support financial inclusion across the vulnerable sectors.
Asaase Radio 99.5 broadcasts on radio via 99.5 in Accra, 98.5 in Kumasi, 99.7 in Tamale, 100.3 in Cape Coast and on our affiliates Bawku FM 101.5 in Bawku, Beats FM 99.9 in Bimbilla, Somua FM 89.9 in Gushegu, Stone City 90.7 in Ho, Mining City 89.5 in Tarkwa and Wale FM 106.9 in Walewale
Tune in or log on to broadcasts online: www.asaaseradio.com, Sound Garden and TuneIn
Follow us on Twitter: @asaaseradio995
Live streaming: facebook.com/asaaseradio99.5. Also on YouTube: Asaase Radio Official.
Join the conversation. Call: 020 000 9951 or 059 415 7777. Or WhatsApp: 020 000 0995.
#AsaaseRadio
#TheVoiceofOurLand