PRESS STATEMENT ON SIM REGISTRATION EXERCISE
I commend the tens of millions of Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians resident in Ghana who’ve diligently registered their SIM Cards in accordance with the SIM
Registration directives for the reason that course of commenced on 1 st October 2021.
The major goal of the SIM Registration train, as now we have regularly
emphasised, is to guard us all towards fraud, promote our collective safety and
advance our transformational digital agenda.
Mobile telephones and SIM enabled gadgets have change into important livelihood instruments and underpin many digital improvements we discover indispensable, however regardless of the immense advantages of recent digital know-how, there are additionally vital dangers, a few of which we’re in search of to mitigate by way of the SIM registration train.
We should guarantee a protected digital eco-system for us all. Government has no intention of simply inconveniencing or overburdening residents, or depriving them of the use
of their SIM Card enabled gadgets.
The excellent news is that regardless of the challenges that this train has encountered, together with challenges with the acquisition of Ghana Cards, now we have chalked vital successes we needs to be pleased with. Between 1st October 2021 and 4
th October 2022;
• 28,959,006 SIM Cards have been linked to Ghana Cards (Stage 1
registration); representing 67.28% of the 42,749,662 complete SIM cardsissued
nationally
• 18,930,664 SIM Cards have been totally registered (Completed each Stages
1 and a pair of) – representing 44.28% of the full SIM playing cards issued. This equates
to 69.64% of all Stage 1 registrations.
• 13,720,687 distinctive Counts of Ghana Cards have been used up to now for the
registration train
While now we have not but achieved our goal, by each measurable yardstick and
towards the challenges that now we have as a growing financial system, that is fairly an
achievement. 14 million Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians can sleep safely, comforted by the truth that their 18.8 million SIM Cards are protected and safe. We have made good progress, and it is a collective achieve that we should have fun.
It is nevertheless disconcerting that just about 10 million individuals who have linked their SIM Cards to their Ghana Cards (i.e. accomplished Stage 1 registration) haven’t
accomplished their Stage 2 registration. There is not any excuse for this since these
people have their Ghana Cards, have began the method and had ample
alternative to totally register their SIM Cards, together with by way of using the self
registration app which is the primary of its variety on the planet.
There could also be some who’re against the SIM Card registration train for
both ideological, philosophical, or political causes. Let me simply remind them that they could be exercising their proper to decide out of this train however all actions have penalties. All unregistered SIMs will probably be deactivated. Regulation 1(b) of the Subscriber Identity Module Registration Regulations, 2011 (L.I 2006) states that “A network operator or service provider shall not activate a Subscriber Identity Module for a subscriber unlessthe subscriber complies with
the directives given by the Authority under the Act and the National Communications Authority Act, 2008, (Act 769) on the registration of
Subscriber Identity Module.”
This imposes a authorized obligation on all Network
Operators to activate ONLY SIMs registered within the method prescribed by the
NCA on their community. Any SIM which isn’t duly registered in accordance with NCA directives can’t be activated on any community in Ghana.
The Authority, NCA, due to this fact, has the ability to concern DIRECTIVES detailing
the complete process for SIM registration and to impose penalties/sanctions for
non compliance with the Directives.
As a accountable authorities, we are going to make sure that they implement the regulation to the letter.
We additionally acknowledge that a few of our residents have had difficulties acquiring
Ghana Cards to allow them undertake their SIM registration, though 1.3
million Ghanaians have additionally been issued their Ghana playing cards however haven’t collected them. This is regrettable and we are going to proceed to have interaction the National Identification Authority to expedite the method.
At the tip of July 2022, I introduced a two-month extension of the deadline for registration to 30 September 2022. Following session with the business, I hereby announce the next:
1. All SIM Cards which have been linked to Ghana Cards (i.e. accomplished Stage 1
registration), however haven’t accomplished their Stage 2 registration will probably be blocked
from the tip of October. This isn’t an extension of the deadline however a short lived moratorium to encourage these people to finish the method. If they’ve any peculiar challenges, they need to contact the NCA. These good individuals have the Ghana card, have began the method and will probably be inspired to finish it
with this mild reminder. All different unregistered SIMs may also be blocked
progressively.
2. The NCA is in discussions with the NIA on registered amputees and different classes of individuals and can make an announcement shortly on preparations
made to accommodate them. The provision made earlier for SIMs energetic outdoors Ghana and diplomats nonetheless stands.
3. All data-only SIMs together with these issued by Surfline, Busy Internet, Telesol, and any establishment reminiscent of ECG, have as much as the tip of November to finish registration.
4. Some individuals have registered greater than ten (10) SIM Cards for private use and the database has recognized it and can clear it up. They ought to, as a matter of urgency, delink the undesirable SIM Cardsimmediately as a result of any extra SIM
Cards over the person restrict of 10 SIMs per particular person will probably be faraway from the
database and blocked. This may also handle problems with pre-registered SIMS. Let
me remind all SIM card distributors that it’s an offense to pre-register and promote SIM
playing cards. The NCA has been directed to conduct thriller purchasing and implement the
regulation towards these miscreants. If discovered responsible, they might be imprisoned for as much as 5 years.
Let me conclude by stating that the federal government is totally dedicated to making sure
that now we have a protected digital ecosystem underpinning our collective cybersecurity.
A profitable SIM Card registration train is an important a part of this aim and I due to this fact enchantment to us all to place our nationwide curiosity first and do the best factor for this nation.
As we have fun our successes on the SIM Card registration, the federal government will proceed to uphold its dedication to guard all residents. We encourage all of us to reside as much as our obligations to one another and to the state. We want your cooperation to make sure that this important SIM Card registration train succeeds.
Thank you.
MRS. URSULA OWUSU-EKUFUL (MP)
MINISTER
