Tech
9 people sue NCA, AG over directives on SIM Re-registration
Nine persons have dragged the National Communication Authority (NCA) to the High Court over its directives on Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card reregistration.
The NCA had given an ultimatum to mobile phone subscribers to re-register their phone numbers or risked having the numbers blocked by telecommunication companies.
The Authority gave 30 September 2022 as the deadline for people to re-register their sim numbers with a valid Ghana Card issued by the National Identification Authority (NIA).
The NIA, however, had indicated that it would be very difficult for it to issue Ghana Cards to all persons by the September 30, 2022, deadline.
The nine persons filed an application for judicial review of the Mobile Phone Sim Card re-registration directives describing the directives as punitive.
Joined in the suit is the Attorney General.
The applicants are praying the court for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining their agent, workmen, contractors’ sub-contractors, and associates deriving authority through the NCA from imposing any punitive measure/ sanctions, including deactivating, restricting, churning, and or in any way or limiting them from using the mobile phone sims and network services until the final determination of the case.
According to the applicants, NCA acted beyond its jurisdiction when it issued the punitive directives requiring them to re-register their mobile phone sim with the Ghana Card as the only identity document on or before September 30.
In a writ filed on September 26, this year, the nine applicants who are customers of MTN, Airteltigo, and Vodafone, said they had applied for Ghana card between 2020 through 2022 but yet to receive them.
The applicants held that since the year 2008 when Act 750 was enacted, the NIA had not been able to register all Ghanaians and other persons entitled to be registered as mandated by law at any point in time.
According to the applicants, its registration process continued to be fraught with technical, human, and funding challenges.
The registration process has been conducted in phases across the country, the applicants held.
They opined that the process of registering and obtaining a Ghana Card was entirely out of their power and control and same entirely rested on the process and mechanisms put in place by the NIA.
Hearing has been fixed for October 6, 2022.
The applicants are Belynda Odey Hammond, Jennifer Elorm Dzikunu, Charity Mansah Afua N. Ackotia, Nsor Sabasi, Jospehine Annor Prempeh, Vida Delacy Kemovor, Regina Elikplim Dagadu, Irene Ayariga and Tracy Ashong.
6 months to retrieve unregistered numbers
The National Communications Authority (NCA) says individuals whose SIM cards will be blocked after the September 30 deadline set for the re-registration exercise can only retrieve them within a six-month grace period.
Failing to redeem the SIM card within six months, the numbers will be churned – that is re-assigned to the pool to be sold to potential new subscribers.
First deadline
Last year, the government, through the Ministry of Communications and Digitalization, gave a directive that all Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards should be reregistered over a six-month period spanning October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022 using the Ghana Card.
Second deadline
The deadline was extended to Sunday, July 31, 2022.
Third deadline
The deadline was again extended to September 30, 2022, for the mandatory SIM card registration with the Ghana card to allow users of 26 million (26,062,571) unregistered SIM representing 62% of total voice SIM cards to do so.
The Ghana card-SIM registration exercise is intended to build a SIM database with integrity to curb fraudulent activities and secure sim card-based transactions while aiding the determination of accurate valid SIM cards across telecommunications networks at any point in time.
That is to synchronize the details on one’s Ghana Card, a national identification card, with those used for the SIM registration to avoid the situation where some unscrupulous persons acquire a number SIM cards using different unverified details so they can avoid being found out when they perpetrate crime.
Stemming increasing incidents of fraud
The initiative is, therefore, meant to stem the increasing incidents of fraud using the phone and also to monitor and track down persons who will use their phones for all manner of criminal activities.
Up to the end of December 2022, non-resident Ghanaians without Ghana card can use passport to complete the process via the app but would be required to update details once they acquired the Ghana card.
All visitors to Ghana can now acquire SIM Cards with their passport
All visitors to Ghana can now acquire SIMS with their passport and Airport Authorities have to work with network operators to provide adequate venues for the registration of SIMs at the Airport and these would be valid for three months.
To use the SIM card for long period visitors must acquire the non-citizen identification card to validate their SIMs.
Ghanaians on official assignment outside the country or students on scholarship
Ghanaians on official assignments outside the country or students on scholarship who could not acquire Ghana card by December are to contact the NCA.
Members of the diplomatic corps
Special provisions have already been made for members of the diplomatic corps in consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.
A decision is to be taken with the NIA on modalities for amputees and others with physical challenges who had difficulty registering their SIMs.
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MTN Ghana has hiked tariffs of its products and services effective February 07, 2023.
The review is as result of two changes. Firstly, the implementation of the 2.5% statutory adjustment of Value Added Tax (VAT) from 12.5% to 15% across all services.
This will impact both Prepaid and Post-paid customers. Secondly, MTN Ghana is proceeding with a 15% average upward review of its mobile data tariffs which was originally announced in November 2022 and was subsequently put on hold.
The increase in mobile data tariffs will impact both Pay Monthly and Pay-As-You-Go users.
The review in mobile data bundle offers cover products available on the short codes 138 & 170, as well as on purchases through Electronic Voucher Distribution (EVD), MTN Pulse, and Data Zone except for XtraTime.
The data tariff increases do not apply to Fiber Broadband and Fixed Wireless Access (4G Router / Turbonet) customers.
With this review, voice users will receive less airtime due to the VAT implementation, and mobile data customers will receive less data bundle allocations for the same price purchased before the tariff increase was made.
The Chief Commercial Officer for MTN, Mr. Noel Kojo-Ganson, explained the impact by giving an example of how the new pricing will work. He said, following the review, a three cedis airtime purchase before the VAT increase, which previously gave customers 24.4 minutes will now give customers 23.9 minutes, whilst a three cedis data bundle which previously gave customers 471 MBs will now give customers 401 MBs.
Explaining the reason for the upward review of the Data Bundle prices, Mr. Noel Kojo-Ganson said the review was necessitated by the recent economic shifts leading to increasing cost of operations largely due to continuous increase in inflation.
“These economic shifts have impacted us directly and for us to ensure we have the right balance for sustaining growth and investments into the network, we have had to consider price increases in various segments of our business.”
Mr. Kojo-Ganson added, “MTN recognises that we are in very tough times and would like to assure our customers that we will continue to offer them the convenience and flexibility in the purchase of data bundles at their desired price points via the MTN Flexi and Non-Expiry Bundles.
Also, customers will continue to enjoy the 50% bonus incentive on mobile data purchases via MyMTN App and MoMo (valid for 7 days) for 4G customers”.
MTN remains committed to investing $1 billion by 2025 to continue its network expansion and improve the network experience for customers.
In line with our Ambition 2025 strategy, our purpose is to lead digital solutions for Africa’s progress.
- MTN cuts sod for $25m ‘Ghana ICT Hub’ – 28 March 2023
- Dr Addison appeals to MPs to prioritize revenue bills – 28 March 2023
- Soldier slaps policeman provoking violent clash in Accra Central – 27 March 2023
President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MTN Group, Ralph Mupita, has called for modernization and harmonization of regulatory frameworks to ensure Africa can deliver universal broadband coverage by 2030.
He made these remarks at the maiden edition of the Africa Prosperity Dialogues held in Ghana.
The event was attended by several distinguished African leaders including President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the former President of Niger and AfCFTA Champion Issofou Mohamadou.
Speaking on the theme, “Moving from Ambition to Action: The Role of Telecommunications in Deepening Intra-African Trade, Challenges and Opportunity,” Ralph Mupita said, “The regulatory frameworks for Africa’s telecommunications industry do not reflect our current advancement.
“They are still positioned for the era of voice. As the world continues to undergo major digital transformation and disruption, our regulatory frameworks need to evolve to reflect these technological advancements”.
Mr. Mupita underscored the need for intense investment by all stakeholders to achieve universal broadband coverage on the African continent.
He said, “Achieving universal broadband coverage on the continent and building digital solutions for Africa’s progress requires a lot of investment not only in terms of digital infrastructure across regions but modernization of our policies and frameworks as well as the collective effort of all stakeholders”.
He further said, “As telecommunications globally sees rapid technological advancements, the continent needs to work towards having a robust regulatory framework which is relevant for the times and is future fit.
In line with this, there is also a need for fair share contribution from all ecosystem participants especially the private sector in terms of building and investing in infrastructure.
He said this requires a fair share contribution by both local and international players including mobile network operators and OTTs”.
Mr. Mupita also indicated that given the challenges Africa continues to face – the aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, effects of the Ukraine war, rising cost of food and fuel prices, inflation amongst others – Africa would need $100 billion capital investment to be able to remain eligible to provide universal broadband for all Africans.
According to report by the World Bank: The Broadband for all Working Group, across Africa, where less than a third of the population has access to broadband connectivity, achieving universal affordable and good quality internet access by 2023 will require an investment of about $100 billion.
The Africa Prosperity Dialogues is organized by the Africa Prosperity Network and is aimed at achieving deeper economic integration between African states in outlining its industrialisation priorities.
The Summit amongst other things discussed policies that will ensure the successful implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The event brought together many Government and business leaders including the Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta and the CEO of the Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC) Mr Yofi Grant. MTN Group Senior Vice President for Emerging Markets Ebenezer Twum Asante, MTN Group Chief Sustainability & Corporate Affairs Officer Nompilo Morafo and the CEO of MTN Ghana Selorm Adadevoh were also in attendance.
- MTN cuts sod for $25m ‘Ghana ICT Hub’ – 28 March 2023
- Dr Addison appeals to MPs to prioritize revenue bills – 28 March 2023
- Soldier slaps policeman provoking violent clash in Accra Central – 27 March 2023
The National Communications Authority (NCA) has granted conditional approval for the transfer of the 70% majority shares in Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited (Vodafone Ghana) held by Vodafone International Holdings B.V. (the Seller) to Telecel Group
Ghana government owns the remaining 30%.
A statement issued by NCA said the approval follows concessions made by the Seller and representations made by the Buyer to the NCA.
It would be recalled that in January 2022, the NCA received an application from Vodafone Ghana for the transfer of 70% of its majority shares held by the Seller to the Buyer.
NCA said it evaluated the application on various criteria accordance with due process and engaged both Vodafone Ghana and the Telecel
The regulator concluded that the request did not meet the regulatory threshold for approval to be granted.
According to the NCA, Telecel resubmitted a revised financial and technical proposal in December 2022 which demonstrated the needed capital investment to extend the deployment of 4G and launch innovative Fintech solutions.
NCA said it found that the revised proposal provided more clarity and certainty in terms of the funding required for the acquisition and the commitments from both the Vodafone and Telecel.
The regulator added that Telecel strengthened the overall governance and management team and made firm commitments towards meeting the regulatory requirements of the NCA.
“Based on the above, the NCA confirms that the revised proposal from the Buyer now meets the regulatory threshold and hence has granted a conditional approval for the transfer of shares to the Buyer including submission of strategies for employee retention,” it added.
The NCA assure the general public and all stakeholders that it would continue to work with Vodafone Ghana and the Telecel to complete all outstanding regulatory requirements to ensure a smooth transition as well as continuity of service delivery and improved choice for consumers and competition within the industry
Vodafone purchased a 70% stake in the Ghana business in 2008 for $900 million from Ghana government.
Then in December 2019, Vodafone Ghana announced the acquisition of all of the Vodacom Group’s stake in Vodacom Business Ghana.
- MTN cuts sod for $25m ‘Ghana ICT Hub’ – 28 March 2023
- Dr Addison appeals to MPs to prioritize revenue bills – 28 March 2023
- Soldier slaps policeman provoking violent clash in Accra Central – 27 March 2023
MTN cuts sod for $25m ‘Ghana ICT Hub’
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