Next National Democratic Congress (NDC) govt will undertake a proper SIM re-registration exercise – Minority
The Minority in Parliament has revealed its plans for a future SIM re-registration exercise under a potential National Democratic Congress (NDC) government. This announcement comes as a response to the current government’s ongoing SIM card re-registration initiative, which commenced on October 1, 2021. The aim of the initiative is to combat fraud and monitor individuals engaged in criminal activities through their mobile phones.
The current re-registration process requires Ghanaians to re-register their SIM cards using their Ghana Cards. Those who failed to comply with the directive faced SIM card deactivation after the final deadline on May 31, 2023.
During a media briefing held in Parliament, Samuel Nartey George, the Deputy Ranking Member on the Communications Committee of Parliament, expressed concerns about the current re-registration process and outlined the NDC’s intention to conduct a comprehensive SIM re-registration exercise in the future.
According to George, the current initiative is not effectively addressing crime due to fundamental flaws in the Ghana Card system. In response, he stated that the next National Democratic Congress government would implement a proper SIM re-registration process that would not require individuals to queue at telecom offices.
In a recent parliamentary update on the SIM re-registration exercise, Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, made an announcement regarding the collaboration between Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and the Bank of Ghana. This collaboration aims to provide assistance to individuals whose funds have become inaccessible in their deactivated mobile money accounts.
The concerns raised by numerous subscribers revolve around their inability to access funds stored in their mobile money wallets after their SIM cards were deactivated due to non-compliance with the re-registration requirement.
Addressing these concerns, Owusu-Ekuful assured affected subscribers that although their deactivated SIM cards would prevent them from engaging in mobile-related transactions, their funds would be retrieved through the necessary processes. This assurance indicates that the recovery of funds is being actively pursued.
The collaboration between MNOs and the Bank of Ghana reflects the commitment of the government to resolve the issue and mitigate the impact on subscribers who have experienced difficulties accessing their funds. By working together, these entities can implement the required procedures to facilitate the retrieval of funds for affected individuals.
It is important to note that while the minister acknowledged the challenges faced by subscribers, the emphasis was placed on the implementation of necessary processes to address the issue. This approach emphasizes a proactive stance in resolving the problem and ensuring that affected individuals can regain access to their funds.
Overall, the collaboration between MNOs and the Bank of Ghana demonstrates the government’s dedication to resolving the concerns of subscribers and providing them with a viable solution for retrieving their funds.
In addition to encouraging the National Identification Authority (NIA) to assist people in obtaining their Ghana Cards, the government is actively addressing the difficulties faced by subscribers in accessing their funds on mobile money wallets.
The recent developments regarding SIM re-registration in Ghana demonstrate the government’s commitment to combating fraud, monitoring criminal activities, and addressing subscriber concerns.
The plans put forward by the Minority in Parliament offer an alternative perspective on the issue, signaling the potential for changes in SIM re-registration processes in the future.
Source – citinewsroom.com
