NCA deactivates 6.1 million SIM cards for incomplete registration
11 million active but not registered to be also deactivated after May 31, 2023.
The National Communications Authority (NCA) has deactivated 6.1 million SIM cards of mobile phone subscribers that have not completed the registration process of their cards using the Ghana Card.
The Ghana Card is the only designated national identification card permitted for the SIM card registration.
Mobile phone subscribers were required to register their SIM cards using the national identification card – the Ghana Card, in an exercise started in October 2021. With the new deadline which has changed more than once, set for May 31, 2023, the Director-General of the NCA, Mr Joe Anokye says there are about 11 million active but unregistered subscribers who will be deactivated after the deadline. He indicated that so far, more than 25 million SIM cards have been fully registered. The NCA says the registration is part of efforts to check fraudulent activities linked to SIM cards in the country.
This is the second time mobile phone users in Ghana are being asked to registered their SIM cards. In the first exercise which ended on March 3, 2012 subscribers were required to use one of five legally required valid ID cards – passport, voter ID, drivers’ license, national health insurance card or national ID card.
But in this second exercise, subscribers were required to use only the Ghana Card. While the national ID card is the only card required for the registration, not everyone has been issued with one, even though most have registered for the card.