The National Communications Authority (NCA) has extended the deadline for public comments on the draft Number Registration Regulations, 2025, which aim to repeal and replace the existing Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Regulations, 2001 (L.I. 2006). The original deadline of November 14, 2025, has now been moved to January 2, 2026.
“Further to the earlier consultation deadline of 14th November 2025, the public consultation period has been extended to 2nd January 2026,” the NCA stated.
The extension was deemed necessary due to initially low public interest, as attention had largely focused on the Draft Cybersecurity Regulation rather than the draft LI or other sector legislations. However, interest in the SIM registration process has surged following the announcement by the Minister of Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Sam George, that SIM registration will commence early next year.
The NCA said the new Regulations are designed to:
- Strengthen the legal and institutional framework for number registration in Ghana.
- Improve data governance, consumer protection, and coordination in managing subscriber information.
- Set robust standards for identity verification, authentication, and lawful processing of registration data.
- Promote inclusivity and accessibility, particularly for underserved and marginalized groups.
- Ensure the integrity, security, and accountability of national numbering resources and registration databases.
The NCA is inviting licensed service providers, industry stakeholders, civil society organizations, consumers, and the general public to submit comments on the draft Regulations. This consultation is in accordance with Section 27 of the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775), Section 5(h) of the National Communications Authority Act, 2008 (Act 769), and Section 4.1 of the National Telecommunications Policy 2005 (NTP’05).
Public Submission Guidelines:
- Comments should be submitted electronically in Microsoft Word format to info@nca.org.gh.
- Each submission must include a completed response cover sheet (see Page iii of the draft document).
- Respondents are encouraged to specify sections they agree or disagree with. All submissions will be treated as non-confidential.
- By submitting comments, respondents grant the NCA the right to use the content to fulfill its legal obligations.
Following the consultation period, the NCA will finalize the Number Registration Regulations, 2025.
Ahead of the regulations going to Parliament, the Minister has announced a procurement process to select a private sector partner to work with the NCA, the National Identification Authority (NIA), and the telcos for the SIM registration rollout. While IMANI Africa suggested the Minister favored a company called Transactly, the Minister denied this and requested proof, warning of possible legal action.
The Minister has affirmed support for local entities playing key roles in the digital sector and stated that telcos will fund the upcoming SIM registration. IMANI Africa has filed a Right to Information (RTI) request demanding transparency on the previous SIM registration, including its costs and the status of biometric data collected by the private contractor, KelniGVG.
Although the Minister has provided conflicting statements about the location of the biometric data, NCA and the National Information Technology Authority (NITA) confirm that all data is securely stored at the National Data Centre under NCA’s control. However, the data collected previously is not compatible with NIA records due to inconsistencies in collection methods.
IMANI Africa and the public are calling for full transparency in the upcoming SIM registration to ensure accountability, value for money, and the avoidance of previous inefficiencies.
