Some individuals are pleading with the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the Ministry of Communications and Digitalization for more time to register their SIM cards after having their SIMs disabled.
Members of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, AirtelTigo, MTN and Vodafone, started deactivating some categories of SIM cards from Wednesday November 30.
One affected network user told the media about his experience using a disabled SIM and urged the NCA to give Ghanaians the time and space to register at their own pace.
“We are humans for Christ’s sake, give us time and space so that in our own time we can get this thing registered and nobody will even complain,” he noted.
According to the Chamber, since November 20, 2022, its members have blocked data services for subscribers who have followed the Ministry’s instructions for stage 1 (linkage to the Ghana Card) but not stage 2 (biometric capture) of the SIM registration process.
“Our members are obliged by the directive to completely deactivate all subscriber SIMs which have not completed the biometric capture registration by the close of business today, November 30, 2022.”
“It is imperative that the cherished customers of the networks are not barred from using voice, data, USSD, mobile money services and access to emergency services among others. Subscribers with Ghana cards can avoid this inconvenience by completing the registration process, that is stage 2 (biometric capture).”
“Our members remain committed to supporting the efforts of all stakeholders to ensure that every customer in every part of the country is able to register their SIM card(s) with the Ghana card. We urge all subscribers to note that all network services for those who have done only the first stage registration will be deactivated by close of business today, 30th of November 2022.”
The Ministry of Communications and Digitalization announced in November that subscribers who had linked their Ghana cards and SIM cards but had not completed the biometric data registration would have their SIM blocked after November 30.
Prior to this, on November 22, all data services for such subscribers were deactivated to encourage them to register.
More than 10 million network subscribers have had their SIM cards blocked after the November 30 deadline.
Subscribers whose SIMs would be blocked have up to 6 months to register their SIMs, they risk having their SIMs churned out.
Source: The Independent Ghana