Why SIM Registration Was Extended

The Minister for Communication and Digitalisation has “reluctantly” extended the SIM card registration exercise to September 30, 2022, despite vowing to abide by the July 31 deadline.

The Ministry observed that there was a “90% drop in the SIM registration as soon as the first deadline was extended on 31st March. Until a week ago, there were no queues at any registration centre. People started to register when they realised that the deadline was imminent after going to sleep when it was extended”.

However, addressing journalists, the sector Minister, Ursula Owusu Ekuful indicated that the delay in the completion of the Self-Service SIM registration App, issues with the Ghana Card, and Bawku unrest are her reasons for conceding an extension.

She explained that the Self-Service SIM registration App was only completed over the weekend. The application will allow unregistered SIM subscribers to use the register in the comfort of their homes without visiting their network providers as has been done since October 1, 2021, when the registration exercise began.

Again,“delay in the issuance of the Ghana Card was the largest single challenge bedevilling the registration exercise. My information is that the NIA has not been able to issue all eligible persons with the Ghana card and that as of Thursday, July 21, 2022, 16, 969, 034 individuals have registered for the Ghana Card with about 16, 535, 623 cards printed. 15,7 02, 719 cards have been issued and distributed whereas some 832, 904 cards have not been distributed or collected by those who applied for them.”

Similarly, she said “broadband wireless registration commenced barely a week ago with only 2% registration as of July 29.

“Many data-only SIMs have also not been registered and my information is that their owners were not aware that those SIMs also needed to be registered.”

Additionally, she mentioned that the security situation in Bawku is also hampering exercise.

As of July 28, 2022, Ursula said stage one registration, that is, linking the Ghana card to the SIM, is completed by 25,260, 661 representing 60% of total registrations. Stage one of unregistered SIMs was 16, 861, 260 representing 40%.

Stage two, that completion of the registration has been done by 15,059, 360 representing 38% with unregistered SIMs numbering 26, 062, 71.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini