Director of Communications for United Party (UP), Solomon Owusu, has criticised the government’s decision to embark on another SIM re-registration exercise, stressing that Minister of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, must face consequences if the policy fails to achieve its stated goals.

Speaking in an interview with Accra-based TV3 and monitored by GhanaWeb on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, Owusu claimed that the last registration drive was undermined by ego and power struggles between the Ministry of Communications and the National Identification Authority (NIA).

He further noted that the Ghana Card, issued by the NIA, is the foundation of all registration processes, yet the authority has not been properly consulted.

He recalled assurances given during the 2021–2023 exercise that linking SIMs to Ghana Cards would eliminate fraud and criminality and yet fraud has persisted, showing that the exercise did not serve its intended purpose.

Most importantly, Owusu pressed for accountability saying, “What assurance is the minister giving to us that this time around? When he fails, what must the country do to him? Is he going to put his job on the line? Is he saying that if he’s unable to, after the registration, there are still forces in the system, he must be sacked from office, or he must be in prison? Or what should happen? Because Ursula Owusu gave us the same assurance. Today, she’s chilling somewhere. Nobody is taking her on.”

Owusu stressed that responsibility should not always fall on citizens. He cited LI 26, which places the duty of identifying subscribers on telecom operators, with penalties for non-compliance. He argued that if telcos fail, they should be sanctioned and if the minister fails to enforce the law, he should face consequences too.

He also highlighted practical challenges, including limited smartphone access and reliance on third-party agents for online registration, which exposes citizens to data risks.

He criticised the disruption caused to transport and logistics, noting that SIM-based trackers on trucks were disabled during the last registration, affecting operations.

Owusu urged the government to work directly with the NIA to access biometric data and identify subscribers who need to regularise their records, instead of repeating costly and disruptive re-registration exercises.

VKB/VPO

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