SIM Card Registration: NIA says it cannot guarantee quality and accuracy of data being
The National Identification Authority (NIA) has indicated it cannot guarantee the quality and accuracy of biometric data being collected by the National Communications Authority (NCA) and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in the ongoing SIM card registration exercise.
This is because the NIA asserts that it is unable to verify against the National Identification System (NIS) database non-live biometric information of Ghanaians collected and stored by third parties.
“NIA cannot guarantee the quality and accuracy of biometric data collected and transferred to it by a user agency.
“As the 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 telecommunications companies or NCA for and on behalf of the telecommunications companies,” said the NIA in a document sighted by NorvanReports.
The document by the NIA is in response to comments made about the verification of identity against the National Identification System database via the NCA’s Android Registration Application.
Touching on the said Android Registration Application developed by the NCA, the NIA asserts that it has no input in the development of the said application for which it is unable to confirm biometric data collected by the NCA thorough the application, as well as confirm if it will meet the standard to enable successful verification against the National Identification System (NIS) database.
The NIA further states that although it is aware that it will play a role in the SIM card registration process, the exact details of the role and it’s associated costs have not yet been agreed on and concluded between the NCA and NIA.
“Rather, the NIA has informed the telecommunication companies that the fee for verification per SIM card is GHS 0.50,” it added.
The NIA furthered that, it has provided telecommunication companies with four options for verification of identity agiant the NIS database which are as follows;
• USSD and thereafter bulk verification of pins and numbers provided by the SIM card holders during the SIM registration exercise
• Online verification of biometrics
• Offline biometric verification by use of an NIA approved device
“These are the only ways NIA can guarantee results generated while ensuring compliance with the law,” it added.
