Telcos begin unregistered SIM card deactivation

AirtelTigo, MTN and Vodafone will start the deactivation of some category of SIM cards from close of day, November 30, 2022, in compliance with the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation’s directive issued on November 11, 2022.

A statement from the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications said since Sunday, November 20, 2022, its members had been blocking data services for all subscribers who had only completed stage one (linkage to Ghana Card) but not stage two (biometric capture) of the SIM registration process, as directed by the ministry.

It said the category of subscribers to be blocked from November 30, 2022 would include voice, data (Mobile Phones, Mifis, other data providing devices), SMS (incoming and outgoing) and USSD.

Also SIM cards on mobile money services and emergency services would also be blocked once the owners had not completed both stages of the registration process.

“The chamber wishes to once again encourage all subscribers who have acquired Ghana cards but are yet to complete stage two to do so without delay. Our members are obliged by the directive to completely deactivate all subscriber SIMs which have not completed the biometric capture registration by close of business today, November 30, 2022,” the Ghana Telecom Chamber said.

The statement entreated customers of the networks to avoid being barred from using voice, data, USSD, mobile money services and access to emergency services among others by completing the registration process.

“Our members remain committed to supporting the efforts of all stakeholders to ensure that every customer in every part of the country is able to register their SIM card(s) with the Ghana card. We urge all subscribers to note that all network services for those who have done only the first stage registration will be deactivated by close of business today, 30th of November 2022,” the statement said.