{
  "id": 6136773,
  "title": "Biometric SIM verification to begin before end of 2026 – Sam George",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/biometric-sim-verification-to-begin-before-end-of-2026-sam-george",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-07T13:09:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Adom Online",
    "slug": "adom-online",
    "url": "https://www.adomonline.com/biometric-sim-verification-to-begin-before-end-of-2026-sam-george/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ghana plans to introduce biometric verification for SIM registration before the end of 2026, Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations Minister Samuel Nartey George has announced. The move follows the passage of the Legislative Instrument (LI) on SIM registration in Parliament, paving the way for the next phase of the project. Speaking at the Government Accountability Series at Jubilee House in Accra on September 7, 2026, Mr George stated that the new system would enhance subscriber identification and improve the accuracy of SIM registration data. Instead of merely linking SIM cards to identification documents, the upcoming phase will necessitate subscribers to provide biometric information, such as fingerprints, to confirm their identities. This step aims to deter the registration of SIM cards using fraudulent or stolen identities and enhance the traceability of subscribers in instances of fraud or criminal activity. The government is dedicated to aligning Ghana's regulatory framework with the rapid advancements in the digital sphere. Minister George emphasized that the journey is ongoing, but the path is clear, the outcomes are demonstrable, and the Ministry's commitment remains steadfast. The biometric requirement follows the difficulties encountered during the previous SIM registration exercise, which commenced in October 2021. Initially, subscribers had to link their SIM cards to their Ghana Cards and subsequently undergo biometric capture at the offices or authorized agents of their network providers. By October 2022, approximately 28.96 million SIM cards had been linked to Ghana Cards, accounting for 67.28% of all issued SIMs. However, only around 18.93 million, or 44.28%, had completed the entire registration process. The registration concluded on May 31, 2023, following multiple deadline extensions, with millions of subscribers only completing the initial stage. The new system is anticipated to rectify some of the shortcomings from the earlier exercise by incorporating a biometric component into subscriber verification.",
  "summary": "Ghana is set to take SIM registration a step further with the introduction of biometric verification before the end of 2026, Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations Minister, Samuel Nartey George, has announced. The development follows Parliament’s passage of the Legislative Instrument (LI) on SIM registration, clearing the way for the next phase of the exercise. […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}