Accra: Director of Communications for United Party (UP), Solomon Owusu, has criticised the government's decision to embark on another SIM re-registration exercise, stressing that Minister of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, must face consequences if the policy fails to achieve its stated goals.
According to Ghana Web, Owusu claimed that the last registration drive was undermined by ego and power struggles between the Ministry of Communications and the National Identification Authority (NIA). He expressed concerns that despite assurances during the 2021-2023 exercise that linking SIMs to Ghana Cards would eliminate fraud and criminality, fraud has persisted, indicating that the exercise did not fulfill its intended purpose.
Owusu emphasized the need for accountability, questioning the assurances provided by the minister and suggesting potential consequences if the policy fails again. He pointed out that previous assurances by officials, such as Ursula Owusu, were not followed by accountability measures.
He further argued that responsibility should not always fall on citizens, highlighting that LI 26 obligates telecom operators to identify subscribers, with penalties for non-compliance. Owusu contended that if telecom operators fail to comply, they should be sanctioned, and the minister should also face consequences for failing to enforce the law.
Owusu also addressed practical challenges associated with the re-registration process, such as limited smartphone access and reliance on third-party agents for online registration, which exposes citizens to data risks. He criticized the disruption to transport and logistics, noting that SIM-based trackers on trucks were disabled during the last registration, affecting operations.
In conclusion, Owusu urged the government to collaborate directly with the NIA to access biometric data and identify subscribers who need to regularize their records, instead of repeating costly and disruptive re-registration exercises.