Extension of SIM card re-registration eminent

Dear Editor,

I have been concerned about the March 31 deadline given for the SIM card re-registration by subscribers. However, a recent comment by a senior official of the National Identification Authority (NIA) makes me believe an extension of the deadline is eminent.

The official in an interview granted an Accra-based radio station, acknowledged the challenges the NIA was facing, particularly unprinted and uncollected NIA cards, double and triple registration by some citizens, among others.

The staff admitted that since the Ghana Card was a pre-requisite for the SIM card re-registration, the challenges highlighted would imply that a lot of Ghanaians may not be able to register their SIM cards by the March deadline.

The official, just like many citizens, believed the SIM re-registration was being done in a “haste” and, therefore, should be extended until end of year, by which time an appreciable number of Ghanaians would have obtained their Ghana cards.

Listening to the submission, I instantly felt the staff could be in ‘trouble’ for expressing such a candid view. But on a second thought, I think it would be appropriate if those pushing for the March deadline take into account the existing challenges of the NIA and reverse the decision to end the SIM re-registration in March.

The government must not be too rigid because rushing the re-registration process may create more problems in future than we are trying to solve. After all, citizens did not call for the re-registration in the first place so they should be given ample time to go through the process. An extension of the deadline is possible and it must be done.

Franklin Adu-Adjei,

Trantra Hill, Accra.