This was made known by the Minister in charge of Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, at a press briefing on Sunday, July 31, 2022.
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SIM re-registration app not meant to extort; will provide efficiency – Ursula
The introduction of the self-service sim reregistration app – which would be available for downloads on both android and IOS in the coming days with a subject fee of GH¢5 – is not meant to extort monies from Ghanaians but rather, provide more innovative and efficient ways to solve the issue of long queues at offices of the network providers.
Communications and Digitalisation Minister, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful.
She explained the app designed by experts would achieve high efficiency and function in the best possible manner with the least waste of time and effort.
According to her, the app will enable the public re-register their sim cards in the comfort of their homes. This process will be alongside the registration efforts of the Mobile Service Providers.
The minister added that there will be public education on the use of the Self-Service SIM Registration App as part of its roll-out.
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“The SIM Registration is still ongoing with the Operators at no fee. The Self Service app is an option for those who choose to use it. The App will be available for download on both android and IOS this week barring any unforeseen circumstances. Each registration via the app will be subject to a 5 cedi surcharge.”
She added, “Non-resident Ghanaians who do not have the Ghana card can use their passports to complete the process but will be required to update their details with the Ghana card once they acquire it. They have up till December 2022 to do so. I urge them to comply with these directives and to contact the NCA if they have any peculiar challenges. Ghanaians on official assignment outside the country or students on scholarships who cannot acquire the Ghana card by December should contact the NCA. Special provision has already been made for members of the diplomatic corps in consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and regional Integration and they have been notified.
“It has come to my knowledge that Amputees and others who have some physical challenges are also a category of persons that are having problems registering their SIMs. We will have discussions with the NIA to resolve them.”
Also, the minister said upon consultation with the telecommunications industry and "in view of the challenges, I have very reluctantly decided to grant a final conditional extension" to September 30, 2022.
"The programme will, and I am choosing my words carefully, the programme will be extended to 30th September to end on the anniversary of its commencement.
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"That will give us one full year of SIM registration, it will be reviewed at the end of this month and any SIM that has not been fully registered by the end of August will be barred from receiving certain services including voice and data services, it will also be more expensive to use unregistered SIMS. The full range of punitive measures will be announced at another press briefing in September..." she made it known.
Meanwhile, a technology analyst, Maximus Ametorgoh, has called for the deadline for SIM re-registration to be scrapped.
He opined that there is no need for the deadline.
He said this an interview on Joy FM over the weekend.
Ametorgoh said the government should rather find a possible way to register those who are unable to beat the deadline.
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