Sim re-registration will build robust data system – Ken Ashigbey

The national SIM card re-registration exercise will ensure that there is a robust data base in Ghana, Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Telecommunications, Mr Ken Ashigbey, has said.

On Sunday September 5, the Minister of Communications and Digitisation Ursula Owusu-Ekuful announced that the national SIM card re-registration exercise will commence in the first week of October this year.

She said all Ghanaians are expected to re-register their SIM cards latest by March 31, 2022.

She explained that citizens who are expected to take part in the exercise are those above the age of 15 years.

Madam Ursula Owusu Owusu-Ekuful noted the exercise has been necessitated due to the increased use of communication services since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and to facilitate E-education, among others.

“Only the National ID card, the Ghana card, issued to an individual shall be used for registration of Sim cards of citizens, foreign residents in Ghana and foreigners staying in Ghana for more than 90 days”.

She added “Foreigners visiting Ghana can acquire a SIM card using the passport or travel card but they can only use the SIM card for 30 days after which it will be deactivated.

“Foreigners intending to use the SIM card for more than 30 days would have to obtain a noncitizen Ghana card to do so.”

Commenting on this, Mr Ken Ashigbey told TV3 that “with this what it will do is that it will ensure there is a robust data base by which we can validate. The questions is, is everybody having?”