Ghana’s proposed SIM card re-registration, scheduled for June 25, 2025, faces mounting criticism, with some experts questioning its financial prudence amid the country’s economic challenges.
In a statement to the media, a development economist and fellow at the Institute for Economic Research and Public Policy (IERPP), Dr. Frank Bannor, labelled the initiative as wasteful and urged Parliament to reject it outright. He argued that the country had already invested millions of taxpayer cedis in a successful nationwide SIM registration exercise under the previous government, questioning the rationale for repeating the process.
“It is financially unwise to commit scarce public resources to an exercise that has already been completed successfully. If there are loopholes, these should be addressed using technology, not by discarding previous efforts and starting over.” Dr. Bannor stated.
The re-registration plan, announced by Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, has triggered widespread public backlash, with many Ghanaians questioning the government’s priorities.
Though the Minister said the telecommunication companies in Ghana will be responsible for paying for a new SIM card registration exercise, but he expressed confidence that the public would not have to pay for it, Dr. Bannor further described the new exercise as a “create, loot, and share” scheme, implying it could serve as a vehicle for misappropriating public funds. He called on Parliament to act swiftly and decisively against what he termed “profligate spending” at a time when the nation is grappling with serious fiscal constraints.
Analysts warn that proceeding with the plan could deepen public distrust and strain already limited financial resources. The call for Parliament to intervene signals growing demands for greater accountability and smarter public spending decisions.
