The Government of Ghana has unveiled tougher rules under a new SIM registration framework aimed at curbing mobile money fraud and phone theft.
The measures, announced at a stakeholder engagement held in Accra on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, by the Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, include plans to block Ghana Cards linked to repeated fraudulent SIM registrations and disable stolen mobile devices across all networks.
The Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, stated that individuals whose Ghana Cards are used multiple times for SIM registrations connected to mobile money fraud will lose access to telecom services.
“If the same Ghana Card is found to be involved in more than one fraudulent registration linked to mobile money fraud, that Ghana Card will be blocked and barred from registering a SIM,” he stated.
He noted that the new penalties are intended to make fraudulent activities more costly, emphasizing the growing importance of the Ghana Card in accessing essential public services.
“Today, almost every government service requires your Ghana Card, so the penalty becomes very severe,” he added, while advising citizens to safeguard their personal information and refrain from registering SIM cards on behalf of others.
At the engagement, the Director-General of the National Communications Authority, Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, announced the introduction of a Central Equipment Identity Register to combat mobile phone theft.
Under this system, mobile devices will be classified using a colour-coded scheme: green for approved devices, yellow for those pending verification, and red for blocked devices that will not be able to access any network.
“The aim is to ensure that stolen or illegal mobile phones cannot be used on any network,” he said, adding that the platform will combine data from all mobile network operators into a single national system.
The new framework will also feature a primary number verification process. Any attempt to register additional SIM cards with a Ghana Card will require approval via a one-time password sent to the subscriber’s main number.
“Once you approve it, you cannot deny the registration, so people must avoid doing this for others,” the Minister cautioned.
Authorities say the new measures will apply to both residents and Ghanaians living abroad, as long as they can verify their identity. The initiative is expected to enhance regulatory oversight, reduce fraud, and strengthen security within the telecommunications sector.