Accra’s foremost research and public policy think tank, CUTS International, has urged the Ministry of Communications and Digitalization to extend the registration deadline for mobile SIM cards till the end of the year.
According to the firm, the majority of Ghanaians experience logistical difficulties getting NIA cards and registering their SIM cards.
Appiah Kusi Adomako, West African Regional Director for CUTS International, told a cross-section of the press in Accra on Monday that he understands the rationale behind mandatory SIM card registration and the implications of unregistered SIM cards on crime prevention and detection as well as on government domestic revenue mobilization measures, but that extending the deadline to the end of the year would allow those who have not registered to do so.
“We are also not unmindful that not everyone would get registered should it be extended to the end of the year, but those who would take advantage of the extension to register would outnumber those who would not register”, he explained.
“As a consumer protection organization, we have received numerous concerns from consumers about the difficulty they go through in acquiring the Ghana Card to enable them to register their sim cards. Some registered during the mass registration exercise in 2019 but haven’t received their cards up to date. A release from the NIA indicated that about 800,000 Ghanaians are yet to receive or pick up their printed cards as of 21st July, 2022. Others have misplaced their cards, whilst others have errors on the spelling of their names, first-time registrants among others,” he added.
Mr. Adomako added that some individuals have had to abandon their jobs, wake up before dawn, and wait in long lines at NIA registration offices, only to be unsuccessful; therefore, extending the deadline will provide them with ample time to obtain Ghana identification cards and register their SIM cards.
If the deadline is not extended, telecom companies risk losing a substantial amount of income from their clients, he said.
“Some have taken microloans from mobile operators and disabling their sim card would create a substantial loss to the industry players. Government on the other hand also risk losing huge amount of revenue from electronic transactions (e-levy) from customers should the deadline stay as it is” he opined.
As a possible means of compelling people who have not registered their SIM cards to do so, he encouraged the Ministry of Communications to implement gradual limits on SIM cards beginning September 1, 2022. This, he said, may include restricting the amount of mobile money that an unregistered SIM can transfer and/or receive per day to a maximum of 100.00 and the maximum internet bundle per day to 100MB.
Shadrack Nii Yarboi Yartey, the Communication and Advocacy Lead for CUTS International, said that mobile phones have become a vital part of our daily life.
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“Its usefulness is enormous and has become a great source of livelihood for most Ghanaians. Disabling the sim cards of Ghanaians who haven’t registered their sim card is like depriving them of their livelihood.” he added.
Mr. Yartey is consequently requesting that the government extend the deadline on behalf of the customers.
In addition, he urged the telecommunications companies to enhance data and voice network connection as well as customer service performance.
SOURCE: myjoyonline
