Some mobile network subscribers have said they are experiencing interruptions with their phone service, following the sanctions imposed by the National Communications Authority (NCA).
The displeased users, who have been expressing their discomfort on social media, indicated that they are unable to make outgoing calls but can receive only incoming ones.
According to some, they received messages from their service providers that their SIM cards have been blocked ‘partially’ for two days due to their failure to re-register them using the Ghana Card.
“MTN has blocked my SIM from making calls; I can only receive calls but I can’t make calls. Like play, like play I can’t make calls.
“Why is MTN the only telco forcing the SIM re-registration process? I have gone through the process of registering my Ghana Card and I still don’t have my card because of reasons best known to NIA,” some subscribers lamented in twitter posts.
It appears not only MTN subscribers are facing the latest restrictions in phone calls and text messages.
AirtelTigo users who are yet to register their SIM cards are equally being restricted in the number of mobile services they can enjoy.
This comes a day after the Communications Minister, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, asked mobile telephone subscribers not to blame their service providers for failure to register their SIM cards.
She said a full raft of punitive measures will soon be rolled out against those who fail to register their SIM cards using the Ghana Card.
But the Minority in Parliament has stressed that the Minister will suffer the consequences for throwing her weight behind the NCA sanctions.
According to a member of the Communications Committee of Parliament, Sam George, this is not the best way to approach the issue.
The group has, therefore, decided to reject the 2023 budgetary allocation for the Communications Ministry should the Sector Minister not heed calls to slow down on the SIM card re-registration exercise.
“The Minister can choose to use her administrative powers in a manner that she pleases, but she should not cry foul when we also as members of the Minority choose to use our parliamentary powers to refuse to hear her budget for 2023.
“This is not blackmail because if the Minister is acting irresponsibly and illegally, then this cannot be said to be blackmailing. Since October last year, we tried to talk reason to her, technical people have explained to her why her route is wrong, but she is recalcitrant and when you have a recalcitrant child, you use what the Bible says, the rod of correction,” he said in a JoyNews interview.
