Ghana will roll out a new SIM card registration exercise later this year as part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening personal data protection and sustaining the country’s digital transformation, Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations Minister Samuel Nartey George said.
Speaking at the Data Protection Conference, George described trust as the foundation of Ghana’s digital economy, cautioning that rapid technological expansion without robust governance frameworks could expose systems to vulnerabilities and undermine public confidence.
He said data has become a defining resource of the modern economy, shaping identity, access to services and economic participation. The planned SIM registration, which will follow consultations with sector stakeholders, is intended to reinforce identity verification systems and strengthen the link between connectivity and access to digital services.
The minister said the Ministry is undertaking reforms to strengthen Ghana’s legislative and institutional framework for data protection, aligning national systems with global considerations on digital sovereignty and resilience. He noted that legal reforms must be matched by technical capacity to design, manage and secure digital systems.
As part of that strategy, he highlighted the One Million Coders Programme, aimed at equipping young Ghanaians with skills in coding, artificial intelligence, data protection and digital engineering. He described human capital development as central to Ghana’s ability to shape its digital future. George urged all institutions that collect or process personal data to comply fully with the Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843) and called on organizations yet to register with the Data Protection Commission to do so.
The Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Andrew Asiama Amoako, delivered a keynote address on behalf of Speaker Alban Bagbin, emphasizing the importance of deliberate action to safeguard Ghana’s digital identity. Arnold Kavaarpuo, executive director of the Data Protection Commission, also urged stakeholders to strengthen accountability in the handling of personal data. The renewed focus on data governance comes as Ghana expands digital public infrastructure and deepens technology adoption across financial services, telecommunications and public administration, raising the stakes for regulatory oversight and cyber resilience.
