The Chamber of Telecommunications has provided assurance that all deactivated unregistered Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) can still be registered. According to the Chamber, the data associated with the deactivated SIM cards will be restored once users complete the registration process using the Ghana Card and providing their biometric data to the mobile operator.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, CEO of the Chamber of Telecommunications, revealed that as of Thursday morning, approximately three million unregistered SIM cards had been deactivated. He further stated that by May 31, 2023, the deadline for the SIM registration exercise, around nine million SIM cards remained unregistered, and an additional six million could be deactivated in the coming days.
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Dr. Ashigbey explained that users of deactivated SIM cards would be unable to make or receive calls, send or receive text messages, access internet services, or perform mobile money transactions. However, they would still be able to receive messages from their mobile operator and access the registration code for the SIM card (*404#). The only accepted document for the registration process is the National Identification Card, also known as the Ghana Card.
“It is important that we all take advantage of this window and register our SIM cards now because we don’t know when the National Communications Authority (NCA) will close that window.
“The Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, the NCA, and the Telcos are not interested in barring people’s numbers. It is to ensure that these fraudsters that are in the system are taken out,” Dr Ashigbey said.
Although the deadline for registration was extended multiple times due to challenges in acquiring the Ghana Card, it was finally set as May 31, 2023, and communicated as the final deadline by the National Communications Authority (NCA).
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Dr. Ashigbey also mentioned that approximately 7.4 million mobile money accounts, holding a total of GHc200 million, have not been registered and will be deactivated. The funds from these blocked accounts will be kept in a special account. Owners of restored mobile money accounts will need to undergo a process to have their funds restored in their wallets.
“If you do not have a Ghana Card, go to the National Identification Authority for the card. Once you get the Ghana card, dial the registration code, and get registered. Once you get registered, you will get your number back,” Dr Ashigbey said.
