Accra, Ghana — April 15, 2025:
The Communications Ministry has issued a strong warning to Electronic Money Issuers (EMIs) and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), cautioning them of tough new measures under Ghana’s upcoming centralized SIM registration system.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express, Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George stressed that the new system will grant the National Communications Authority (NCA) direct power to blacklist fraudulent numbers across all networks, closing a long-standing loophole that allows fraudsters to evade detection by switching service providers.
Telcos Accused of Ignoring Fraud Reports
According to the Minister, mobile money fraud remains rampant, largely due to what he described as inaction by EMIs and telcos, despite numerous complaints from the public.
“That is my problem with the EMIs that we are going to deal with,” he noted, citing cases where known fraud numbers and repeat scam patterns have been reported, yet networks have failed to act.
He described the ongoing situation as a “willful blind eye,” especially in cases where fraud syndicates use strings of similar phone numbers for scams on platforms like Facebook.
New Centralized System to Enforce Real Consequences
The new framework, which will place the SIM registration system directly under the supervision of the NCA, is designed to prevent fraudsters from hopping between networks after being blocked on one.
“That’s the beauty of the registration system we are going to do,” the Minister said. “The NCA will have the power to blacklist numbers across networks.”
In addition to blacklisting capabilities, the government plans to introduce stiff financial penalties for telcos that fail to take action on flagged fraud cases.
“If a report is made and we identify that this number is perpetuating fraud, failure to deal with it by the telco — after we have informed you — will result in daily pecuniary fines,” the Minister warned.
Tougher Oversight to Protect Mobile Money Users
The planned reforms reflect a growing urgency as mobile money fraud remains a major threat despite Ghana’s SIM registration efforts and ongoing public awareness campaigns.
Once implemented, the new system will prioritize real-time fraud detection, automatic cross-network blacklisting, and identity verification linked to the National Identification Authority (NIA).
The Minister’s remarks signal a clear policy shift: telecom operators will no longer be allowed to ignore fraud complaints without consequences.
Source: Myjoyonline
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