The Chairman of Parliament’s Information and  Communications Committee, Abednego Bandim, has revealed that more than 60 per cent of data captured during the 2021  SIM registration exercise is inaccurate, rendering it unfit for purpose.

He said an audit of the exercise uncovered widespread irregularities, raising serious concerns about its credibility.

Speaking to journalists on Thursday, March 26, after a meeting with Samuel Nartey George, Minister for  Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, the Bunkpurugu MP stressed the need for a fresh SIM registration exercise that is more robust and capable of protecting Ghanaians against mobile money fraud.

“The minister directed an audit, and they found out that the database had a lot of fraud where people used cloned national identification cards to register SIM cards. We can’t afford to have that database. Out of the 100%, over 60% of the data is inappropriate and not fit for purpose. That is why we still have a high rate of mobile money fraud in the system,” he said.

He also disclosed that the upcoming exercise will be at no cost to the public, as mobile network operators will bear the cost.

“The minister also assured us that this time around registration would be done even by mobile teams, and registration will also be done at the various CICs. We have CICs dotted across the countries at various districts where we know we have those facilities, where they are used to train the 1 million coders. That is where registration would be done for those who will not be able to help themselves.

“It is going to be free, and we are told that the mobile network operators will provide it. The mobile network operators are very happy to have this exercise done,” he said.