New SIM Registration for 2026 : The Government of Ghana will launch a completely new nationwide SIM registration exercise in the first quarter of 2026.
Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George has declared the previous registration effort invalid.
New SIM Registration – Why a Fresh Registration is Necessary
Speaking on TV3 on December 3, Minister George stated that the prior SIM registration, led by former Minister Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, failed critically.
Specifically, he argued it did not meet core legal and technical standards. “The registrations that were purported to have been done… did not cross-reference the biometrics they took from you against the national database,” he explained.
Therefore, the government insists the old process did not properly authenticate user identities through verified biometrics.
The Legal and Technical Framework for the New Exercise
To ensure a robust process, the government is first establishing a strong legal foundation. Importantly, a new Legislative Instrument (L.I.) is ready for parliamentary approval.
“There must be a proper legal basis for what we are doing,” the Minister stressed. Furthermore, authorities are currently procuring a service provider through the Public Procurement Authority.
This meticulous approach underscores a key distinction: “We are not doing a re-registration. We are doing a SIM registration,” George emphasized, indicating a fresh start.
How Integration with the Ghana Card Will Work
A cornerstone of the new excercise will be seamless integration with the National Identification Authority (NIA). The Ministry has already secured an agreement to link telecom and NIA databases.
This integration will allow for real-time biometric verification against Ghana Card data during registration. Additionally, the government is proactively cleaning and synchronizing the scattered biometric data collected previously.
Notably, Hon Sam George revealed that about 80% of this legacy data has already been cross-referenced with the NIA in the backend.
Ultimately, this integration is designed to guarantee accuracy and security for the 2026 SIM registration drive.
