Long queues at SIM registration centers to lead to spread of covid – SACOG
Save Consumers Ghana (SACOG), has revealed that it is tempted to support suggestions that the ongoing SIM card registration exercise has led to the increase in the spread of the covid-19 omicron virus.
This is because the long queues at the registration centers is putting the health of mobile network subscribers at risk.
The group stated this in a press statement issued on the back of the ongoing SIM card registration exercise at various registration centers across the country.
“We are attempted to support suggestions that the current situation is putting the health of subscribers at risk in the light of reports of an increase in the spread of the Ominicron variant of COVID-19”, the statement said.
The group also indicated that it attention has been drawn to the long queues, delays and frustration that has been associated with the SIM card registration exercise.
SACOG added that, although the exercise is important, it joins the numerous calls that the deadline for the registration which is March 22, 2022 to be extended, adding that it believes that the deadline is attributing to the pressures by subscribers to register their SIM cards hence the long queues at the centers.
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“Our attention has been drawn to the long queues, delays and frustration that has characterised the SIM card re-registration exercise across Ghana. In as much as the exercise is important we also join numerous calls for the Ministry of Communication to extend the March 22 deadline.
“We strongly believe the deadline is causing panic among consumers thus the rush by subscribers to have their SIM cards re-registered”, the statement added.
The group also noted that the delays in the process is causing inconvenience to consumers, in that, subscribers will join long queues for long hours only to go through a less than 30 minutes process of registration.
“We also think delays in the process, is causing inconvenience to consumers as some spend over 6 hours at network service centres just to go through a process which lasts less than 30minutes”.
The group therefore urged the Ministry of Communication to come up with a solution to reduce the numbers as well as a decision to extend the deadline.
“We are therefore urging the Communication Ministry and the telecommunication companies to as a matter of urgency, find an efficient way of reducing the numbers at the re-registration centres whiles a decision is made to extend the deadline,” it stressed.
