Deputy Communications Minister explains importance of SIM re-registration

The Deputy Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Mohammed Adams Sukparu, has underscored the importance of SIM card re-registration exercise.

According to him, it as a necessary step to curb mobile money fraud and other criminal activities facilitated through unregistered SIM cards.

Speaking on the matter in an interview at Parliament on March 27, 2026, the minister who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Sissala West, highlighted the growing reports of individuals being duped through mobile money scams and the use of multiple SIM cards to perpetrate fraudulent schemes.

“A lot of reports about people duping others through mobile money fraud and people using multiple SIM cards to engage in fraudulent activities have been recorded,” he explained.

He noted that although previous administrations had attempted SIM registration, the process was flawed because the data collected could not be linked to the National Identification Authority (NIA) database.

SIM re-registration a political decision disguised as policy – NPP MP

“In the past, we were told that our SIM cards had been registere but the reality is different. As the minister said, if you go to the NCA, the regulator, the current director-general who was part of the team that did the registration can testify that what was done during the previous administration was just assembling people’s data. Those data could not link to the National Identification Authority data,” Sukparu stated.

He revealed that attempts to match about 2.7 million registered SIM cards with the NIA database failed, exposing a loophole that allowed individuals to register SIM cards using someone else’s ID card.

“What that means is that I can pick your ID card and go and register a SIM card. When I use it to perpetrate any crime, it will mean that it is you who is the owner of that SIM card,” he cautioned.

The Deputy Minister emphasised that the current process is designed to close these gaps by ensuring collaboration between the NIA, the National Communications Authority (NCA) and telecom operators.

“This registration means we are going to work closely with the NIA, the regulator and the telecoms. Of course, you saw even the MTN country director spoke about it,” he added.

@accracitynews

Deputy Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation Minister Mohammed Adams Sukparu explains importance of SIM re-registration exercise, slams critics

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