A broke but wise government will not block SIMs after 31st July

If the Government goes ahead to block SIMs cards that have not been fully re-registered, the decision will be very unpopular, wrong, the highest level of incompetence, and poor decision-making on the part of the leadership of the Ministry of Information and Digitalization.

The decision by the Ministry of Information and Digitalization led by Hon. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful will demonstrate unpardonable high incompetence if they block or deactivate SIMs that are yet to be re-register.

A broke but wise government will not block or deactivate SIMs when it generates revenue from active SIMs

It will be illogical for a broke, but wise government to block SIMs after 31st July. The Ghana card, which many have registered for but are yet to receive, means that people through no fault of theirs will be forced to lose their numbers or be blocked. The wisest decision would be to extend the SIM re-registration for another 6 months until March 2023 and also resource the National Identification Authority to Fas track the registration and distribution of the printed Ghana Cards with efficiency to Ghanaians for them to complete the process.

Ghana must not be caged with this unnecessary threat of blocking SIM cards when the government through the NIA has failed to register all qualified Ghanaians for the card and has also not been able to get many registered persons their cards.

When a SIM number is blocked, the owner of the number will not be able to make calls, Mobile Money transactions, buy data, or use the SIMs for any service. This will not help anyone, especially the government of the day, which is broke and finding it difficult to raise needed revenue.

Come to think of it, it did not take the current total number of SIM and mobile phone users just a year to register all the SIMs they use. Hence, re-registering them would need more time, especially when some citizens do not steal their Ghana Cards to complete the registration. Telecommunications giant, MTN Ghana, has expressed concern over the inability of their customers to access their Ghana cards to allow for a smooth SIM re-registration.

“There’s the challenge with how many of our customers have the National ID card. And that’s an area we’re looking at; how we can support the NIA to make sure customers can get the cards to do the registration. We’re doing some partnerships with the NIA so that those who don’t have the ID cards, especially those in remote areas, to help them get the card, so we can facilitate the process for them.” Mr Selorm Adadevoh, The MTN Ghana CEO said.

SIM re-registration deadline will dwindle the government’s low revenue

The MTN has not moved its SIM re-registration closer to its customers even in the market centres, but how can someone in the market register if he or she does not have a Ghana card?

The biggest loser will be the government because it collects all manner of taxes from the people of Ghana through the calls made, the data bought and the mobile money transactions (E-levy)

The government of Ghana will lose when it comes to its revenue mobilization efforts of the government through the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). If the government’s arrogant posture overtakes common sense, four (4) key government revenue policies: E-Levy, Communications Service Tax (CST), GETFUND/NHIL, and VAT.

READ: MTN Free Data & Talk Time for Customers Linking Ghana Card & SIM

The prudent decision is to extend the registration for another six months. Blocking SIMs should not be a priority of the government and the ministry in charge because it will further affect telecommunication networks and the government. The revenue targets of Telecos would be significantly affected, hence the corporate taxes that they pay to the government.

A broke but wise government will not block SIMs after 31st July, since it needs the revenues to meet its financial obligations. The Minister, for now, can just be described as one that is excited to show political-administrative power, but this coercive power will fail if not tamed for the good of the nation. The Minister should rather show leadership and not the powers of a boss and embrace the use of referent power, helping the government to raise more revenue. Referent power is a unique type of personal power built on respectful interpersonal relationships rather than manipulation or coercion which is being exhibited by the minister.

Truth be told, Ghanaians are not excited by her uncompromising posture about deactivating unregistered SIMs.  The Government needs the support of the Citizens to succeed under the prevailing global economic crisis.

READ: Less Than A Quarter Of All Sim Cards Registered

The electoral commission registered 17,027,641 in 2019 for 2020 elections, all things held constant, many Ghanaians have at least two SIMs and that adds up to almost 34million SIMs which have to be re-registered and linked to the Ghana card.

Likely Challenges and the way forward

There will be serious negative consequences, unwarranted pressure, and confusion in all NIA offices from 1st August if the government makes the mistake of deactivating numbers in the name of SIM re-registration. This day may end up becoming an unofficial public holiday as people would skip the offices and market squares first to the NIA to demand their Ghana cards.

The NIA has a key role to play and must be supported, however, it will be wrong to deactivate SIMs after 31st July.

READ: SIM registration deadline extended until July 31st

Indeed, a broke but wise government will not block or deactivate SIMs after 31st July. Let us see some good judgment at work before 31st July 2022.

It is time for leadership to listen to the people, and think of its needs  (revenue) and the difficulty of Ghanaians in getting their Ghana cards. Extend the end date to end of March 2023.

Over to you, Ministry of Information and Digitalization, led by Hon. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful.

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Source: Ghana Education News | Wisdom HAMMOND| Leadership Expert and Freelancer