Media personality, Bridget Otoo, has revealed that she is among the many Ghanaians who have fallen victim to SIM card identity theft.
She made this known in a Twitter post on April 17, 2023, while responding to concerns raised by FixTheCountry convener, Oliver Barker-Vormawor.
Mr Barker-Vormawor noted that many Ghanaians would in due time seek legal agrees over their Ghana cards being used to register SIM cards not belonging to them.
“This identity theft situation where people’s Ghana cards are being used to register other SIM cards is a huge privacy protection class action waiting to happen,” he wrote.
In reaction, Bridget Otto, revealed that for a very long time, her SIM Card had been registered under the name of one “Richard.”
“I had to always argue when I went to MTN for sim replacement cos I had to prove SIM was mine. I had no idea who registered it on my behalf. Eventually I was able to register it in my name after no one claimed it,” she further stated.
For a long time my Sim Card had bn registered in one Richard’s name. I had to always argue whn I went to MTN for sim replacement cos I had to prove SIM was mine. I had no idea who registered it on my behalf. Eventually I was able to register it in my name after no one claimed it https://t.co/5FT2jmGHSb
— Sting like a Bee (@Bridget_Otoo) April 17, 2023
On the subject, a computer system analyst, Yayra Koku, has said the National Communication Authority’s (NCA) insistence for only Ghana Card to be used for the registration of SIM card has led to many subscribers using the Ghana Cards of others to register their SIM cards.
To address the challenge, the National Communications Authority plans to introduce a short code for the verifications of identities.
The NCA in a statement on Facebook explaining how the verification will work said: “You just type the shortcode on your phone, and after a verification process using your Ghana card pin, the number of SIMs associated with the Ghana card will be displayed.”
It added that there will be no need for subscribers to physically go to the Telco to verify the same when the short code is operational, by the end of April 2023, after the testing has been completed and approved.
Source: The Independent Ghana