The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has held discussions with key players in Ghana’s telecommunications industry on plans for a new nationwide SIM card re-registration exercise and the rollout of 5G technology.
The engagement brought together leaders from the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, chief executives of major telecom operators, and officials from the National Communications Authority (NCA). The meeting focused on reforms approved by Cabinet to strengthen national security, improve service delivery, and support Ghana’s digital transformation agenda.
During the discussions, the minister revealed that government has approved a completely new SIM registration exercise following a review of the previous process. According to him, earlier efforts were plagued by challenges such as weak biometric verification, data inconsistencies, and instances of fraudulent registrations.
Under the proposed framework, the NCA will serve as the central repository for SIM registration data, while biometric verification will become mandatory for all subscribers. Authorities also plan to introduce a Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) that will allow telecom operators to block stolen or fraudulent mobile devices across networks.
On the issue of 5G deployment, the minister indicated that Cabinet has approved the removal of the exclusivity clause under the previous wholesale 5G framework. This move is expected to pave the way for a new competitive spectrum auction, enabling telecom operators to directly participate in the rollout of the technology.
Industry leaders welcomed the government’s approach but noted that the rollout of 5G would require significant investment in infrastructure, spectrum acquisition, and network upgrades. They called for reasonable spectrum pricing and clear regulatory guidelines to ensure a smooth and competitive deployment process.
Participants described the meeting as an important step toward stronger collaboration between government and telecom operators as Ghana prepares to expand its digital infrastructure and introduce next-generation mobile connectivity.
