After the Ghanaian government’s announcement on October 1, 2021, regarding the compulsory re-registration of SIM cards, telecommunications companies in Ghana have deactivated around 9 million SIM cards that were not registered.

As a result of this directive, which was issued by the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the Ministry of Communications, subscribers who did not comply with the re-registration requirement have faced significant consequences.

Following this development, a woman in her late thirties has expressed her dissatisfaction, specifically directing her frustration towards Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the Minister of Communications.

Appearing on UTV on June 2, 2023, the woman, who is a single parent, shared her concerns regarding the deactivation of both her and her child’s SIM cards.

During the interview, she explained that her mobile money wallet was associated with her SIM card, resulting in her funds being inaccessible due to the deactivation.

She argued that although her child had registered for the Ghana Card, the sole document required for the re-registration process three years ago, they had not yet received the card.

She urged the authorities to allow her to withdraw her funds while they retain the SIM card for their intended purposes.

“They have blocked my Vodafone SIM card yesterday. I came here this morning around six o’clock when I came, they said ‘network,’ so I went inside. And when I went inside, they said Ursula Owusu has said that they have made an announcement that anyone who hasn’t brought his/her Ghana Card for re-registration of his/her SIM card should be blocked… but my child has registered for the Ghana Card, and it has been three years he hasn’t gotten it.

“So, right now that they have blocked the SIM card, how is he going to use the phone? His money is on my phone, so, if that is the case, then they should withdraw my money for me because they said when they block your SIM, your money is also blocked. I beg them, because for me, I am a single parent taking care of my children, they should withdraw my money for me and go and give the SIM to Ursula Owusu to chew …Yes, they should give me my money and go and give the SIM to Ursula Owusu to chew,” she stressed.