Portia Nana Akua Pinamang has called on the government to urgently reform Ghana’s SIM registration process, describing the exercise as one that has repeatedly placed unnecessary pressure and frustration on ordinary citizens.

According to her, while the objective of SIM registration is understandable especially in the fight against fraud and cybercrime the way the exercise is implemented often creates avoidable hardships for many Ghanaians. She noted that in a country that is steadily developing its digital economy, systems should be strong enough to ensure that such nationwide exercises are carried out smoothly without disrupting people’s daily lives.

Over the years, SIM registration exercises in Ghana have often been characterized by long queues at telecom service centers, slow registration systems, and confusion among citizens about the exact requirements needed to complete the process. Many people are forced to spend hours waiting to register their SIM cards, sometimes returning multiple times because the systems are down or registration officers are overwhelmed by the number of people.

For traders, drivers, artisans, and other workers who rely on their mobile phones for business and communication, these delays can affect their daily income. In busy commercial areas, people sometimes abandon their work for long periods just to ensure their SIM cards are not disconnected. In many cases, registration officers struggle to handle the crowds due to limited equipment and personnel.

The situation is even more challenging in rural communities where access to registration centers is limited. Residents often have to travel long distances to towns where telecom operators have set up registration points. For many of them, this means spending additional money on transportation simply to complete a process that should ideally be fast and accessible.

Another major frustration for citizens has been the repeated nature of SIM registration exercises. Many Ghanaians who have previously registered their SIM cards have at times been asked to re-register due to new policy changes or database integrations. This repeated process creates the impression that previous exercises were either poorly coordinated or not properly implemented.

Despite these concerns, the government insists that SIM registration remains an important step in tackling rising cases of cybercrime and mobile money fraud. The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has indicated that new measures are being introduced to improve the system and make it more effective.

Among the reforms being discussed is a stronger integration between telecom operators and the national identity database. By linking SIM cards directly to the Ghana Card system, authorities believe it will become easier to verify identities and track individuals who engage in fraudulent activities through mobile networks.

The minister has also spoken about improving digital registration systems to reduce congestion at registration centers. This could allow more people to complete parts of the process online, limiting the need for physical visits to telecom offices.

However, Portia Nana Akua Pinamang believes that the true test of these reforms will be how they are implemented on the ground. She emphasized that policies may look good on paper, but if the systems remain slow, inaccessible, or poorly coordinated, the frustrations experienced by citizens will continue.

She therefore urged the government to prioritize efficiency, expand registration infrastructure across the country, and ensure that technology is used to simplify the process rather than complicate it.

“SIM registration is important for national security and for fighting fraud,” she noted. “But it should not become a recurring burden for citizens every time a new policy is introduced.”

According to her, if the government succeeds in building a reliable and efficient system, SIM registration can finally become a simple administrative process instead of a stressful national exercise for millions of Ghanaians.