The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, Sylvia Owusu‑Ankomah, has cautioned that SIM card registration on its own will not be enough to eliminate mobile fraud in Ghana.
Speaking during discussions with the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, the telecom industry leader stressed that while SIM registration is an important step toward improving accountability in the telecommunications sector, it cannot fully stop fraudulent activities without additional security systems.
According to her, fraudsters are constantly developing new tactics to bypass existing safeguards, so relying solely on SIM registration may not yield the expected results in the fight against cybercrime and mobile-related fraud.
She explained that although SIM registration helps link mobile numbers to verified identities, criminals can still exploit loopholes within the broader digital ecosystem. As a result, she believes a more comprehensive strategy involving stronger technology, regulatory enforcement, and collaboration between telecom operators and security agencies is necessary.
Owusu-Ankomah therefore urged government authorities and stakeholders within the telecom industry to adopt additional measures to complement the SIM registration exercise.
Her comments come at a time when the government, through the National Communications Authority, is considering new steps to strengthen the country’s SIM registration regime as part of efforts to curb fraud, identity theft, and other cyber-related crimes.
The renewed discussion also follows growing public concern about mobile money fraud and other digital scams that have affected many subscribers across the country in recent years.
Industry players believe that integrating stronger identity verification systems, improving data protection mechanisms, and deploying advanced tracking tools will be key to making Ghana’s telecommunications space safer for users.
As the government prepares for the next phase of SIM registration reforms, experts say collaboration among policymakers, telecom companies, and cybersecurity agencies will be crucial to ensuring the initiative delivers meaningful results in tackling digital fraud.
