Sim Card Registration: Still Making Up Excuses for the Ghanaian in Us

The National Communication Authority (NCA) last week started meting out some sanctions to persons yet to re-register their SIM cards.

According to communication from the Authority, the punitive measures will be accelerated as the days roll on obviously to get such persons to register.

Prior to the announcement there have been various forms of advertisements to drum home the importance of the exercise to every Ghanaian.

Even before the introduction of these “punitive measures”, there were times the “dead line” for the exercise has been extended to encourage others who have not had the opportunity to do so.

Surprisingly, just when the punitive measures have been introduced, the Ghanaian in us is deeply aroused-The Ghanaian that makes excuses for everything and owns up to nothing.

So far, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on the Parliament of Ghana, specifically Parliament’s Select Committee on Communications to call the Minister of Communications and the NCA to halt the process.

In a statement registering their displeasure, the party stated that the actions of the Minister and the NCA have been arbitrary and lawless, having no constitutional backing whatsoever and thus must be halted.

“It is an indisputable fact that the re-registration of mobile SIM cards policy and its attendant sanctions that are being meted out to Ghanaians by the Ministry of Communications and the National Communications Authority are neither backed by the SIM Registration Regulations, 2011 (L.I 2006) nor the National Identity Register Regulations, 2012 (L.I 2111) or any law in force in the country.

“The decision by these entities to restrict the SIM Cards of Ghanaians including those who have already re-registered their SIM Cards is therefore unlawful, irresponsible and unacceptable to say the least,” part of the statement signed by General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia read.

Aside the NDC, individuals and groups have taken legal actions against the government over the Communication Ministry and the NCA’s actions.

For us at the Ghanaian Publisher, it is about time the Ghanaian attached seriousness to all exercises that is national in nature.

The last minute way of doing things and later running behind politics and seeking refuge at the court has more often than not proved unfruitful to the national course.

The Ghanaian never has the right time for anything.