The Chief Executive of Ghana’s Telecom Chamber, Sylvia Owusu-Ankomah, has warned that registering SIM cards alone won’t eliminate fraud. Consumer awareness and protecting personal IDs are key to tackling mobile-related scams, which often involve impersonating trusted sources to steal sensitive info.
“SIM registration isn’t a magic fix for fraud. Most scams involve tricking people into sharing personal IDs and PINs. Protecting these is the best defence,” she said. The government plans another nationwide SIM registration exercise, aiming to tighten regulations.
Mr. Owusu-Ankomah stressed that educating consumers to avoid pre-registered SIMs and ensure their numbers are linked to their national IDs for accountability.
“If you buy a pre-registered SIM, you risk being tracked for crimes done with it,” she warned. Mobile users urge the government to make the exercise effective in stopping scams, citing ongoing mobile money fraud cases despite previous registration drives.
