NIA Distances Itself From SIM Re-registration

The National Identification Authority (NIA) has distanced itself from the actions of the National Communications Authority (NCA) regarding the new Ghana Card SIM card Registration policy for all patrons of telcos in Ghana.

 

 

In a three-page press release, NIA questions the credibility of the NCA’s robust SIM management system after the institution disclosed that there is no way the verification processes being used by the NCA can be used against the data the NIA has collected since the telcos are only taking pictures of fingerprints.

 

 

 

The authority says the NCA has not involved them in the development of the app that is being used in the SIM card registration process and as such, there is no integration between the app of the telcos and the database of the National Identification Authority’s Ghana Card.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A letter from the National Identification Authority (NIA) purported to be a response to the National Communications Authority (NCA) on the processes that led to the ongoing compulsory SIM re-registration exercise, has raised questions about the legality and sanctity of the process.

The 13^th September, 2021 NIA letter responded to three key issues, one of which was to confirm whether or not “the biometric data to be collected by the NCA for the purpose of SIM registration is in a format, and of sufficiently high quality for successful verification against the National Identity System”. The NIA answered in the negative.

“The design and development of the process by which the National Communications Authority (NCA), acting by itself or through a third party, will collect and store biometric data of SIM card holders is exclusive to the NCA. NIA does not have any input in the development of the said Android Registration Application. NIA is unable to confirm that the biometric data to be collected by the NCA for the purpose described above will meet the standard to enable successful verification against the National Identification System (NIS) database” parts of the letter reads.

The NIA, citing Regulation 7 of the National Identity Register Regulations, 2012 (L.I 2111) argued it is the institution responsible for verifying the identity of all persons who seek to partake in transactions which require the verification of identity, as such an exercise of that nature requires their involvement.

The NIA said it has entered into a Public Private Partnership Agreement with Messers, Identity Management Systems II Limited, its technical partner, to develop and manage a state-of-the-art Biometric Verification Platform which guarantees the highest security and meets the highest international standards for use by all agencies to confirm the identity of their clients during transactions which require proof of identity.

The NIA also said it cannot “endorse or guarantee the quality of the biometrics to be captured by NCA (during the SIM card registration exercise) with devices NIA has not duly certified.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Find the full letter below:

 

 

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Here is what to note in the press statement issued by the NIA regarding their relationship with the NCA on the subject matter of SIM Registration using Ghana Card:

1. According to NIA, they cannot use the biometric data the Telcos are collecting to verify what is in their database. This is because the Telcos are just taking pictures of fingerprints and are not collecting Live fingerprints.
“NIA is unable to confirm that the biometric data to be collected by the NCA for the purpose described above will meet the standard to enable successful verification against the National Identification System (NIS) database.”
– NIA

2. According to NIA, they were not involved in the App (developed by KelniGVG) to register the SIMs. “The use of an App that is not developed or certified by NIA to rend the Ghana Card using a two-step data collection and verification process is outside NIA’s control. NIA is, therefore, unable to guarantee the results of such a process.” – NIA

3. According to NIA, if there should be any form of verification, it should be live biometric data against what is on the card to establish the identity of the person and that is not what the Telcos and NCA are doing.

“With reference to Regulation 9 of L.1.2111 titled Power to verify identity by biometric match, persons who wish to ascertain the authenticity of the Ghana Card must use a portable identity card reader to scan the individual’s fingerprints and match the template of the live print with that which is stored in a storage medium embodied in the Ghana Card or the NIS database through a secure link. As NIA is not part of the biometric data collection stage of the SIM card registration process, it is also unable to confirm that it is in a position to verify the non-live biometric information to be collected by the telecommunication companies or NCA for and on behalf of the telecommunications companies.” – NIA

4. “NIA is unable to confirm that the biometric data to be collected by the NCA for the purpose described above will meet the standard to enable successful verification against the National Identification System (NIS) database.”
– NIA

5. “The use of an App that is not developed or certified by NIA to rend the Ghana Card using a two-step data collection and verification process is outside NIA’s control. NIA is, therefore, unable to guarantee the results of such a process.”

6. As NIA is not part of the biometric data collection stage of the SIM card registration process, it is also unable to confirm that it is in a position to verify the non-live biometric information to be collected by the telecommunication companies or NCA for and on behalf of the telecommunications companies.” – NIA