"Extend SIM Card registration to the end of the year

" \n Extend SIM Card registration to the end of the year - CUTS urges Gov\u2019t\u00a0 \n \n\n \n A leading research and public policy think tank, CUTS International, Accra is urging the\u00a0 Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation to extend the mobile SIM Card\u00a0 registration deadline to the end of the year as the majority of Ghanaians have logistical\u00a0challenges in obtaining NIA card and using the same to register their sim.\u00a0 \n \n\n \n Speaking to a cross section of press in Accra on Monday, the West African Regional\u00a0 Director for CUTS International, Mr Appiah Kusi Adomako said \u201cwhilst we understand\u00a0 the rationale behind the mandatory SIM card registration and the implication of\u00a0 unregistered SIM cards on crime prevention and detection as well on government\u00a0 domestic revenue mobilisation measures, extending the deadline to the end of the year\u00a0 would ensure that those who have not registered would be able to do so. Again, we are also not unmindful that not everyone would get registered should it be extended to the\u00a0 end of the year but those who would take advantage of the extension to register would\u00a0 outnumber those who would not register\u201d\u00a0 \n \n\n \n \u201cAs a consumer protection organization, we have received numerous concerns from\u00a0 consumers about the difficulty they go through in acquiring the Ghana Card to enable\u00a0 them to register their sim cards. Some registered during the mass registration exercise\u00a0 in 2019 but haven\u2019t received their cards up to date. A release from the NIA indicated\u00a0 that about 800,000 Ghanaians are yet to receive or pick up their printed cards as of 21 st July, 2022. Others have misplaced their cards, whilst others have errors on the spelling\u00a0 of their names, first-time registrants among others,\u201d he added.\u00a0 \n \n\n \n Mr Adomako said, \u201csome people have had to abandon their work, wake up at dawn to\u00a0 join long queue at the NIA registration offices but are unsuccessful, extending the\u00a0 deadline will give them ample time to get the Ghana cards and register their sim cards\u201d.\u00a0 \n \n\n \n He revealed that Telcos risk losing huge volume of revenue from their customers should\u00a0 the deadline not be extended. Some have taken microloans from mobile operators and\u00a0 disabling their sim card would create a substantial loss to the industry players.\u00a0 \n \n\n \n \"Government on the other hand also risk losing huge amount of revenue from electronic\u00a0 transactions (e-levy) from customers should the deadline stay as it is,\u201d he opined.\u00a0 \n \n\n \n As a way to compel those who have not registered their sim cards to register, perhaps, the Ministry of Communications can adopt a phased limitations on sim card starting from 1 st September 2022. This could include limiting the amount of mobile money that an unregistered sim can send and or receive to a maximum of GHC 100.00 per day and maximum internet bundle to say 100MB per day. \n \n\n \n On his path, the Communication and Advocacy Lead for CUTS, Mr Shadrack Nii Yarboi\u00a0 Yartey said the use of mobile phone has become an integral part of our everyday lives.\u00a0 Its usefulness is enormous and has become a great source of livelihood for most Ghanaians. \n \n\n \n Disabling the sim cards of Ghanaians who haven\u2019t registered their sim card\u00a0 is like depriving them of their livelihood, he added.\u00a0 \n \n\n \n Mr Yartey is therefore appealing, on behalf of consumers, for government to heed the call and extend the deadline. \n \n\n \n He also called on the Telcos to improve both data and call network connectivity, and\u00a0 customer service delivery to consumers.\u00a0 \n \n\n \n CUTS International is an independent non-profit economic policy research, advocacy and\u00a0 capacity building think tank with regional centers in Accra, Lusaka, and Nairobi, Geneva,\u00a0 Delhi, Jaipur and Washington, DC. CUTS functional areas are in trade and development,\u00a0 regional integration, competition policy, education, healthcare, fiscal policy, economic and\u00a0 investment regulation as well as consumer education.\u00a0 \n "

"Extend SIM Card registration to the end of the year

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