The National Communication Authority’s deactivation of SIM Cards, according to the Ghanaian Mobile Money Agents Association, will drive off their members’ customers.
The National Communications Authority (NCA) won a decision on the SIM Card registration on Monday, November 21, 2022, from the Accra High Court, which is presided over by His Lordship Justice Charles Edward Ekow Baiden.
Nine Applicants brought the claim against the Communication Authority in connection with the ongoing SIM Registration Exercise, which came to a close on November 30, 2022.
The Chamber of Telecommunications will reportedly delete nearly nine million SIM cards.
This comes after the NCA repeatedly delayed the deactivation of SIM cards’ deployment.
According to Evans Otumfuor, general secretary of the Mobile Money Agents Association of Ghana, their members’ means of subsistence depend on the mobile money industry.
“Since our members’ businesses depend on these SIM Cards, this would undoubtedly result in job losses or render some of them unable to carry on with their operations. Their inability to comply with the requirements to have all SIMs registered, including their business accounts, as of right now, is not their fault.
“When you are provided a standard by which to enable registration—the Ghana Card—and it is obvious to everyone that not everyone has received a Ghana card. Therefore, if the government decides to follow that goal, it will inevitably result in job loss and uncertainty. Because if this is going to take away someone’s source of income, that individual might consider exploring other options, according to Mr. Otumfuor.