Save Consumers Ghana (SACOG) has joined calls for the Ministry of Communication to extend the March 22 deadline for the re-registration of SIM cards.
According to the consumer protection organization, the March deadline is causing panic among Ghanaians who are rushing to telcos to merge their SIM numbers with their Ghana Cards, thereby causing congestion.
“We are tempted to support suggestions that the current situation is putting the health of subscribers at risk in the light of reports of an increase in the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
“We also think the delay in the process, is causing inconvenience to consumers as some spend over 6 hours at network service centres just to go through a process which lasts less than 30 minutes,” SACOG Executive Director, Nana Oye Ankrah, said in a press statement.
Read the full statement below.
SACOG JOINS CALLS FOR EXTENSION OF SIM CARD RE-REGISTRATION EXERCISE
Accra-Ghana: January 10, 2022: Our attention has been drawn to the long queues, delays and frustration that has characterised the SIM card re-registration exercise across Ghana.
In as much as the exercise is important, we also join numerous calls for the Ministry of Communication to extend the March 22 deadline.
We strongly believe the deadline is causing panic among consumers thus the rush by subscribers to have their SIM cards re-registered.
We are tempted to support suggestions that the current situation is putting the health of subscribers at risk in the light of reports of an increase in the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
We also think delays in the process, is causing inconvenience to consumers as some spend over 6 hours at network service centres just to go through a process that lasts less than 30 minutes.
We are therefore urging the Communication Ministry and the telecommunication companies to as a matter of urgency, find an efficient way of reducing the numbers at the re-registration centres whiles a decision is made to extend the deadline.
Signed
Nana Oye Ankrah
Executive Director
0553528008