Ghana to introduce liveness detection with self-service app in upcoming SIM verification drive

Ghana is planning to conduct a nationwide SIM card registration exercise under a new regulatory framework that will involve advanced biometric verification. The government is also vowing tougher sanctions against defaulters.

Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations Minister, Hon Samuel Nartey George, gave the information recently during a media stakeholder engagement session ahead of the commencement of the activity. The Director General of the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA) were present.

In his remarks during the exchange, George explained the peculiarity of the planned SIM card drive, saying it is the first biometric SIM verification to take place in the country.

It could also be the last such exercise the country would ever need, he added, citing one novelty which is the introduction of a facial recognition liveness detection system connected to the NIA database. The reason is to make sure people don’t use photographed copies of the Ghana Card spoofed facial photos to register SIM cards.

The minister also mentioned that although the legal instrument to guide the exercise is not ready, the plan is to get it in place in the course of this year.

Previous experience with SIM registration

Ghana conducted a highly controversial nationwide SIM registration exercise between 2021 and 2023. Before then, there had been another initiative in 2010. The immediate past process was rocked by complaints as SIM card users faced hassles in a bid to register their phone lines, while others faced severe challenges due to lack of a Ghana Card.

Things were made even worse given that biometrics needed to be recaptured from individuals, many of whom already had their information with the NIA. Curiously, it turned out later that the biometrics never really served their purpose as there was a mismatch in many cases.

At the close of last year, the government said it was planning a new SIM card registration drive that will unfold under a new regulatory system.

This time around, George said the exercise will be different, more structured, and coordinated with various stakeholders. About 80 percent of Ghanaians will be able to complete the registration process via a mobile app from the comfort of their homes.

“They can sit in the comfort of their home with their own smartphone, pick their Ghana card, do the liveliness test, and register,” George explained. For those without smartphones or who encounter issues, assisted registration will be available at designated centers via an appointment system as well as through mobile teams deployed to rural areas.

Push for eSIM adoption

He added that the self-service is also intended to encourage the adoption of eSIMs and everyone will have to get their phone numbers verified afresh as the old SIM registration database will not be migrated to the new system.

“A lot of work has been going on behind the scenes. It’s taken us over a year to get to this point, and that should tell you the amount of work that has gone in from the policy and from the regulatory side,” the minister told reporters.

“The team at the NCA, led by the Director General, has put in a lot of man-hours because, as far as I’m concerned, the most important thing about this registration exercise must be that the public is put at the centre of the entire process. The comfort of the public is at the centre of the entire process.”

For George, this new exercise has to be taken seriously and defaulters could face extremely tough sanctions.

A joint presentation from the NCA and the NIA emphasised why the new SIM verification drive matters for the country. It noted that it was important to have a verified digital identity linked to a very active phone number so as to prevent fraud and identity misuse.

In a bid to make the registration system more successful, the NCA has been consulting with stakeholders on a draft law to guide numbering resource registration.

Article Topics

Africa  |  biometric liveness detection  |  biometrics  |  digital ID  |  Ghana  |  identity verification  |  SIM card registration