The Minister for Communication and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has cautioned mobile telephony subscribers to re-register their SIM cards or risk facing sanctions.
While reminding Ghanaians about the approaching deadline, she said service providers should not be held liable for any punitive measures that would apply after the deadline.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, “if you suffer that fate as a result of your own inaction, kindly do not blame your service provider.”
Madam Ursula Owusu noted that “after evaluation at the end of August, it has been determined that starting the disciplinary steps outlined in the NCA press release is prudent.
“Additionally, any SIM that has not yet been completely registered will be unable to use voice and Internet services. Afterward, using unregistered SIMs will be more expensive.”
The Communications Minister announced that the full scope of the sanctions will be revealed in a subsequent press conference in September.
On his part, the Deputy Director, Consumer and Corporate Affairs Division at the National Communications Authority (NCA), Kwame Gyan has disclosed that Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have began blocking unregistered SIM cards.
He indicated that the exercise started Monday September 5, 2022, a day after the Authority released punitive actions to be taken against unregistered SIM cards according to a 3news.com report.
Wednesday September 7, persons who have completed just stage one of the registration will be added to the list of those whose cards are being blocked, said Mr. Gyan.
Below is Ursula Owusu’s full statement:
I informed the media during my most recent meeting that the SIM registration exercise would not be extended past September 30.
After evaluation at the end of August, it has been determined that starting the disciplinary steps outlined in the NCA press release is prudent.
Additionally, any SIM that has not yet been completely registered will be unable to use voice and Internet services. Afterward, using unregistered SIMs will be more expensive.
At a subsequent press conference in September, the full scope of the sanctions will be revealed. If you suffer that fate as a result of your own inaction, kindly do not blame your service provider.
To be forewarned is to be forearmed.
