Sam Nartey George, Minister-Designate for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovation, has outlined plans to conduct a more efficient and streamlined SIM card re-registration process, addressing the challenges faced during the previous exercise.

Speaking during his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee on January 30, George criticised the inefficiencies of the 2022 re-registration process, which required SIM cardholders to visit various network operator offices to link their SIM cards with their Ghana Cards. Many Ghanaians experienced long queues, and failure to comply resulted in SIM card blockages or the loss of essential services.

George assured the committee that the new registration process would leverage technology to cross-reference data with the National Identification Authority (NIA) database, eliminating the need for long queues and simplifying the process for citizens.

“The previous approach didn’t make sense. It was impractical to subject Ghanaians to long waits and unnecessary procedures,” George said. “We will ensure that nobody has to queue. With technology, we can cross-check data from the NIA database and mobile network operators, and only in cases of discrepancies will people need to visit MNO offices.”

George also stressed that the move would benefit mobile network operators, who currently lack the means to properly verify SIM card ownership. By using the NIA’s biometric database, George believes the process will be more efficient and beneficial to all parties involved.

Source:TheDotNews