The Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority, Wisdom Kwaku Deku, has called for the full integration of the Ghana Card as the sole basis for identity verification in SIM registration, cautioning against duplicating existing systems.
In a statement issued last Friday, Mr Deku reflected on previous policy approaches, describing attempts to conduct identity verification outside the authority’s centralised framework as inefficient and counterproductive.
“When identity has already been established and securely stored within a central system, there is no justification for recreating that process elsewhere,” the statement read.
It added that, “Doing so introduces friction, increases cost, and weakens system integrity. It also creates room for perverse incentives, where processes become driven by volume and fees rather than accuracy and verification.”
Mr Deku stressed that identity verification must be treated as a “trusted, centralised public good” rather than a transactional activity, noting that past audits had exposed weaknesses in earlier exercises.
“The foundation existed, but it was not fully utilized,” he said, adding that the gaps have since been addressed.
According to the NIA, it now operates a robust and secure identity verification infrastructure, supported by reforms such as the clearance of registration backlogs, the introduction of instant card issuance and expanded nationwide coverage.
The statement highlighted the banking sector as a model for effective integration, noting that financial institutions rely on the Ghana Card for consistency, accuracy and security through the National Identity Register.
“For telecom operators, this offers a clear lesson,” Mr Deku stated. “Success in SIM registration will not come from technology alone. It will come from how well systems are integrated, how effectively stakeholders collaborate, and how deliberately processes are designed around the user.”
He welcomed features of the new SIM registration framework, including mobile app-based self-registration, assisted digital services and the use of facial recognition and liveness detection technologies, describing them as critical to improving efficiency and user experience.
The NIA boss emphasised that security remains paramount, noting that biometric verification ties identities to unique physical characteristics, while liveness detection prevents the use of static images or fraudulent identities.
Mr Deku said the authority stands ready to support the telecommunications sector, as it does with banking, healthcare and taxation services, urging stakeholders to align fully with the Ghana Card system.
“Ghana must not repeat the mistakes of the past. The Ghana Card must remain the single source of truth, and all systems must align around it,” he said.
He added that, “If we get this right, Ghana will not only solve the challenges of SIM registration—we will take a decisive step toward a future where identity is verified once and trusted everywhere.”
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh