By: Edzorna Francis Mensah
The Minority in Parliament has questioned the motive behind the blockage of SIMs in Ghana over the inability of some of the citizens to register their SIMs with Ghana Card on time as directed.
According to the Minority, why should the National Communication Authority together with The Ministry of Communications “punish Ghanaians with a blockage of their SIM cards?”
He said, in recent times, it appears that the success of the Communications sector is haunting the members of this Government whereby the value of our democracy is being threatened by the emasculation of the networks to intimidate subscribers whose freedoms are regularly subjected to database manipulations.
“Instead of promoting the widespread use of communications services, what it is obtaining now is an unnecessary request for registration, re-registration, multiple registration of SIMs for contrived reasons palpably designed to discourage ownership and operation of SIMs for National Identification purposes”, he added.
The News Conference addressed by the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu on September 13, 2022 in Parliament again asked, “isn’t the NCA aware that a significant number of Ghanaians especially the poor have not been able to access the national ID that is the only medium for registering through no fault of theirs”.
The Leader who addresses the conference on the topic, ‘the abuse of regulatory supervision of the communications sector and blockade of subscribers’ sim registration’, Mobile telephone (smart phone) is an essential emergency tool, “owning a cellphone has become regarded as a necessity in modern society. Great advances have been made with smart phone technology and most of us rely on our phones to help us in array of situations.”
According to him, communication is a fundamental right hence, “it is an all-purpose emergency kit focusing on specific niche (elderly, medical emergency, medication) in the areas of medical help location family members, detailed survival tips, alert on an emergency as well as to help find shelter.”
The Minority however accused NCA of acting ultra vires in curtailing the exercise and enjoyment of the Right to privacy of communication……” today, digitalization and ICT are directly tied to key Fundamental Rights including the Right to privacy and communication “as no person’’ should be subjected to interference with the privacy of his communication”. (Article 18 supra)
The government is proceeding erroneously as if every Ghanaian has a Ghana card. This is simply not true; it is not the case. “
The Minority further asked several questions as to why the NCA is simply ignoring the legitimate concerns of Ghanaians who are crying and saying ’we do not have the Ghana card. Help us access these public goods?
Why is the minister and government, for that matter, not acting with the same zeal and alacrity and ensuring that Ghanaians achieve a successful transition from analogue radio and television to digital terrestrial radio and television since the switch-over deadline has long passed?