NCA audit finds zero fingerprint match in SIM registrations

The National Communications Authority (NCA) has disclosed that an audit of SIM card registrations conducted between 2021 and 2023 recorded zero fingerprint matches when cross-checked with the national identity database, raising serious concerns about the credibility of existing subscriber data.

The findings form part of ongoing preparations for a nationwide SIM card re-registration exercise aimed at improving data accuracy and strengthening security.

According to the NCA, the audit is part of broader government efforts to enhance SIM subscription management following the mass registration exercise intended to link every SIM card to a verified identity.

Here's what NCA said about government's SIM re-registration plans

Director-General of the NCA, Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, disclosed this during a stakeholder engagement on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

“In June 2025, we took a sample of about 2 million registrations and tested it against the National Identification Authority (NIA) database. We found that some SIM records could not be verified. As for the fingerprint, there was zero match with biometric capture methods.

“Fundamentally, the NIA fingerprint was taken using contact methods, whereas the mobile registration used contactless methods,” he explained.

The NCA also identified other irregularities during the audit process.

“Some registrations contained incorrect identity information. Some biometrics could not be confirmed. There were also data inconsistencies observed between systems,” he said.

On facial recognition, the NCA reported relatively better outcomes, although gaps remain.

“When it came to facial matching, out of the 2.3 million registrations we attempted to validate, 81.1% matched, while about 18.9% did not. However, there was no liveness check, so it could not be confirmed whether the person presenting the card was indeed the rightful owner,” he added.

The revelations come despite nearly 40 million SIM cards having been registered nationwide.

According to the NCA, the upcoming re-registration exercise will address these shortcomings by strengthening verification systems and aligning SIM registration more closely with the NIA database.

JKB/MA