SIM Card registration is to ensure security of mobile subscribers - NCA

23-02-2012      

The National Communications Authority (NCA) has stressed the urgent need for the general public to adhere to the ongoing SIM card registration to avoid permanent de-activation. The nationwide exercise in perspective will not only ensure the security of mobile phone subscribers, but also enhance the economic development of the country as reliable and efficient data of subscribers would be achieved to combat crime and other malicious activities. Speaking in an interview with Radio Ghana in Bolgatanga, the consumer and Corporate Affairs Manager of NCA, Abed Bandim reiterated the point that it is not the intention of the NCA to deactivate mobile subscribers who fail to register their SIM Cards but explained that the exercise was necessary in strengthening consumer‘s contractual relationship with their mobile network operators. Mr. Bandim further noted that due to the importance NCA attaches to the ongoing mobile registration exercise, parliament at its sitting on February 1, 2012 adopted the Subscriber Identity Module Registration Regulation, 2011, (L.I 2006) to give legal backing to the SIM Registration. The legislation, Mr. Bandim explained provides that as from March 3, 2012, no SIM card can be used if not duly registered. Under the said L.I, no mobile Service operator shall be able to activate a SIM card for a new customer without having been registered. Also existing subscribers who have either not registered their SIM cards or whose earlier registration are invalid are required to re-register, failing which their SIM cards will be deactivated. According to him, it is the expectation of the NCA that subscribers will heed to the notice and ensure that their SIM cards are validly registered. He said the exercise since July, 2010 has passed through series of deadlines because NCA saw the need to allow for valid registration to be corrected, emphasizing that the authority’s resolve is to see to it that  the exercise achieved a thoroughly sanitized and complete register, hence the urgency for subscribers to ensure that their SIM cards are validly registered.  Mr. Bandim announced that the NCA is going to embark on an intensive vigilance on mobile service registration agents engaged in the registration exercise since they are to be blamed for the millions of invalid SIM registration discovered during the ID verification process. He also disclosed that the NCA has instituted measures to ensuring that information given out in the course of registration is kept safe and confidential. Touching on the process of registration, Mr. Bandim stated that the law requires citizens to register their SIM cards with a valid Ghanaian passport, driver’s license, voter ID card, National Health Insurance Card or National Identification Card. Foreign citizens, he further said, are required to posses ECOWAS travelling document or a valid national passport to be able to partake in the exercise. Asked whether NCA has the power to sanction mobile service operators that persistently trade on poor quality of service, Mr. Bandim said the law empowers NCA to take punitive action against such service providers since is it of paramount importance to give customers the best of service. He however cautioned mobile operators to work towards ensuring good quality service to their loyal customers to avoid possible penalties. The media he said can play a leading role in keeping mobile service operators on their toes and further implored them to us their medium to assist in raising awareness on the need to adhere to the deadline of March 3, 2012.

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