With the upcoming rollout, Ghana is taking a significant step forward in building a more efficient, secure, and inclusive digital ecosystem.
Starting June 2025, SIM card re-registration in Ghana will go fully online, allowing citizens to complete the entire process online—no visits to physical registration centers will be required. The announcement was made on April 8 by Minister for Communication, Samuel Nartey George during a visit to Margins ID Group (Intelligent Card Production Systems) in Accra.
The initiative is part of the government’s broader effort to streamline public services and accelerate the country’s digital transformation. “This system will save time, improve accuracy, and offer a more convenient experience for all Ghanaians,” the Minister noted.
Under the new system, citizens will be able to register their SIM cards using their Ghana Card through a fully online platform, with automatic verification replacing in-person, manual checks.
Ghana’s SIM card re-registration campaign began in 2021, requiring all SIM holders to re-register their numbers using the Ghana Card, the national identity document. However, the process has faced multiple delays due to low registration rates and logistical challenges—including long queues, technical issues, and limited access to registration centers.
According to an update from the Ministry of Communications dated November 11, 2022, and signed by then-Minister Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, 30,011,082 individuals had completed the first phase of registration by linking their Ghana Card to their SIM number. Of these, 20,892,970 had completed the full process, including biometric verification—representing nearly 70% of total registrations at the time.
Despite the progress, millions of SIM cards remained unregistered, prompting repeated deadline extensions and concerns about service disruptions for those unable to complete the process. By moving to a fully online system, the government aims to close the remaining registration gap and reduce the administrative burden for both citizens and telecom operators. The updated system is expected to improve access, boost compliance, and enhance data accuracy.
Beyond convenience, online re-registration is also critical to national goals. The government hopes to strengthen security by curbing fraudulent SIM use and ensuring better regulation of the telecom sector through accurate subscriber data.
Hikmatu Bilali
