Communications Ministry Announces Cross-Network Blacklisting of MoMo Fraudsters

The Ghanaian government is preparing to roll out a new centralized SIM registration system that will give the National Communications Authority (NCA) unprecedented power to combat mobile money fraud. According to Communications Minister Ursula Owusu-Ekuful and MP for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, the system will enable the NCA to blacklist fraudsters across all mobile networks, making it harder for scammers to operate.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday, April 15, Samuel George expressed strong concerns about the lack of action from Electronic Money Issuers (EMIs) and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) when it comes to fighting mobile money-related scams. He accused them of ignoring repeated reports and failing to take decisive steps, despite obvious patterns that point to fraudulent activity.

George pointed out that victims of mobile money scams often report specific phone numbers used in the crimes. However, even when there’s clear evidence, very little is done to stop these perpetrators from continuing their schemes. “That is my issue with the EMIs,” he said. “When you trace most of these mobile money frauds, especially the ones carried out through Facebook or social media platforms, they often involve a series of phone numbers with similar patterns. These are not isolated incidents.”

He further stated that customers consistently file complaints with the EMIs, hoping for action. In theory, the EMIs should coordinate with the telcos to block the numbers involved, but in practice, this seldom happens. “They simply don’t follow through,” he lamented.

However, the landscape is about to change significantly. Under the new SIM registration framework, the entire process will be managed centrally by the NCA. This means the authority will be able to enforce blocking measures on a national scale—ensuring that once a number is identified as fraudulent and blacklisted, it is barred across all networks, not just the one it was originally tied to.

“That’s what makes this upcoming system so powerful,” George said. “Once it’s implemented, the NCA will have the legal and technical ability to block a scammer on every network simultaneously. So, fraudsters can no longer just switch SIM cards or hop networks to keep operating.”

Perhaps even more impactful is the accountability being placed on telecom companies themselves. According to George, if a telco fails to act on a fraud report flagged by the NCA, they will face daily financial penalties. “We’re introducing strong enforcement tools. If a number is reported for fraudulent activity and we confirm it, and the telco doesn’t act—even after being informed—then they will be fined for every day they fail to respond,” he stated firmly.

This new initiative comes at a time when mobile money fraud continues to be a pressing concern in Ghana. Despite previous SIM registration efforts and public awareness campaigns, fraudulent activities have persisted, eroding public trust in digital financial services.

The government hopes that this centralized system—supported by real-time reporting and integration with the National Identification Authority (NIA)—will significantly reduce the incidence of mobile money scams. By tying every SIM card directly to a verified national ID, anonymous or duplicate registrations will become virtually impossible.

With implementation expected in the coming months, the government is making it clear that the era of lax enforcement is coming to an end. The new structure not only places fraud detection at the heart of national telecom regulation but also ensures that operators are held to account for failing to protect users.

As the system rolls out, all eyes will be on how quickly and effectively it is adopted—and whether it can finally turn the tide in the fight against mobile money fraud.