Telecommunications companies in Ghana have deactivated almost 9 million unregistered SIM cards.
This complies with a National Communications Authority (NCA) directive.
Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the minister of communications, announced the commencement of the re-registration of all mobile SIM cards on October 1, 2021.
Due to difficulties faced by SIM card users, the exercise was repeatedly extended from the initial six-month projection.
However, the last deadline expired yesterday, May 31.
Users can re-register their SIM cards even if they won’t have access to features like phone calls, according to Dr. Ken Ashigbey, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, in an interview with Citi monitored by Ghanatodayonline.com.
“Those who have not fully registered their SIM cards will be blocked. As of right now, there are around 9 million people who will be blocked, and there are approximately 7.4 million people who use mobile money. These people will not be able to access their mobile money. Therefore, on the GSM side, you won’t be able to send a text, make a call, receive a call, or use data services.
7.4 million members won’t be able to access their accounts since they didn’t register their SIMs, he added. He did promise that the network operators would protect the money on SIM cards.
For the 7.4 million users who have more over GHC 200 million in their wallets when they are prohibited, they will have the chance if they register, they will receive their numbers back to have access to their funds and historical records restored.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com