All SIM cards which have completed the first stage of the registration exercise but have not done the second phase will be blocked from accessing data services on 20th November 2022.

The sim cards will be completely deactivated on 30th November 2022.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Minister for Digitalisation and Communications, Mrs. Ursula Owusu Ekuful on Friday, November 11, 2022.

According to her, barring of sim cards is part of the measures being taken to ensure a secure and safe digital ecosystem.

Madam Owusu Ekuful said measures to accommodate persons who do not have Ghana Cards to register their SIM cards.

This, she said in the statement, will take place after ongoing consultations have been completed.

“One key reason why some of those who have linked phone numbers to Ghana cards have been unable to complete the bio capture of stage two is because they used other people’s cards to link their numbers. This includes vendors who used the cards of others without the knowledge or consent of the card owners. Their inability to complete phase two attests to the robustness of the authentication process designed into the sim registration architecture.  It will flush out all fakes. You cannot use someone else’s Ghana card to register your sim,” she said.

“Despite ample opportunity afforded all to complete the registration of their SIM cards, some who have the Ghana cards and have begun the process have failed to complete the registration. That is their choice and we cannot begrudge them,” the Communications Minister added.

Currently, 30,011,082 have completed the first stage (Linking of Ghana Card to SIM Number).

As at 9th November 2022, 20,892,970 subscribers, had completed the SIM card registration (linkage and biometric). Almost 70% of these registrations have been completed.

By: Bernard Ralph Adams | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana