Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has announced that the government will implement a comprehensive registration of all mobile and digital devices in addition to proper SIM re-registration to strengthen the fight against digital fraud.
During his vetting in Parliament, he criticized the SIM re-registration conducted by the previous administration from 2021 to 2022, labeling it as lacking common sense and logic. He pointed out that the process not only wasted the time of Ghanaians but also failed to enable telecommunications companies to track down criminals using SIM cards for digital offenses, particularly mobile money fraud.
Despite the previous efforts at SIM re-registration, mobile money fraud has continued unabated, with the Bank of Ghana reporting concerning fraud statistics and very few arrests made.
In an interview on Newsfile on Joy News, Sam George explained that the new SIM re-registration process will leverage technology to link the data held by telecom companies with the National Identity Authority (NIA) database. This will eliminate the need for individuals to queue and provide their biometrics again, as was required in the past.
He indicated that out of more than 38 million active SIM cards in Ghana, only about two million are expected to have issues. The holders of these problematic SIM cards will be notified via SMS by their respective telecom providers to update their details. He noted that these SIMs are likely pre-registered and used by fraudsters, and as such, they will be deactivated.
Device Registration
The minister stressed that to effectively combat mobile money and digital fraud, it is crucial to go beyond just SIM registration and also register the devices that utilize these SIM cards.
“Every mobile device has a unique IMEI number, which serves as its identification. Our plan is to link each SIM to its corresponding device by creating a national register of all devices and their IMEI numbers. This way, if a crime is committed using a specific SIM card, we can trace not only the SIM but also the device through its IMEI number. If necessary, we will block both the SIM and the device, preventing the fraudster from inserting a new SIM into the same device for further criminal activity,” he explained.
According to him, this strategy will increase the costs for fraudsters involved in mobile money fraud, as they will face the risk of both the SIM and the device being blocked.
Sam George also mentioned that device registration using IMEI numbers will help industry stakeholders and the government verify the authenticity of mobile devices in the country, as no two devices can share the same IMEI number.
Another advantage of having a national device register is the ability to easily trace stolen mobile devices. Thieves will be deterred from stealing devices, knowing that their location can be tracked even if the device is turned off.
This register will also be connected to a global database, allowing for the tracking of stolen devices that are shipped internationally, whether from Ghana or to other countries.
Sam George expressed confidence that with effective SIM re-registration and device registration, the fight against mobile money fraud could be significantly improved, if not completely eliminated.
Meanwhile, it is reported that measures are already being taken to ensure the establishment of the national device register as soon as possible.
