The subscriber identification (SIM) cards that have been delinked from their database due to non-compliance with the SIM registration process will undergo routine forensic audits of mobile network operators' (MNOs') systems by the National Communications Authority (NCA) to ensure that they are not fraudulently restored.
In keeping with the government's goals of fostering confidence in the nation's digital ecosystem, the action is also meant to properly defend the Single Central SIM Register's integrity.
Since the start of the widespread SIM registration exercise, 6.17 million SIM cards that were not registered with the Ghana card have been successfully deactivated. By the end of next month, another 11.1 million active but unregistered SIMs will still be linked.
The deactivated SIMs belonged to a set of customers who had only completed stage one of the two-step registration procedure, according to NCA Director General Joe Anokye, who revealed this during a news conference in Accra yesterday.
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the minister of information, was present during the press conference.
Connivance
According to reports, some dishonest people are discovering illegal ways to register SIM cards without letting the owners go through the established procedures, often with the assistance of MNO personnel.
However, in response to a Daily Graphic inquiry about the problem and potential solutions, the NCA boss provided a promise that "through the forensic audits, we will understand the genuine situation, and any MNOs who are proven to be responsible will be subjected to the full force of the law."
As MNOs reconcile their central databases by the end of the month, Mr. Anokye predicted that the number of deactivated SIMs would increase.
One thing to keep in mind is that the active bulk registration period for SIMs that are already in use is coming to an end.
We have around 11 million SIMs that have not yet started the registration process, as previously said. These customers have until the end of May 2023 to finish the registration process or risk having their SIMs deleted from the network, the official stated.
Mr. Anokye clarified that only SIMs belonging to Ghanaians serving on official business overseas, foreign diplomats stationed in the nation, and refugees would be excluded from the upcoming bulk deactivation exercise, which would affect 11 million active but unregistered SIMs.
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