Some mobile phone subscribers, who are yet to register their SIM cards are calling on the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the Ministry of Communications to provide some information on what will happen to their mobile money wallets with cash if they are unable to re-register their SIM cards tomorrow, May 31, 2023, and lose their phone numbers permanently.
The ministry has warned that the deadline for the re-registration of SIM cards will not be extended again.
However there are concerns about what will happen to mobile money accounts of customers with cash who may lose their numbers permanently.
“I am worried about the situation. I have not been able to re-register my SIM card with the Ghana card. I am hoping I can do it before the deadline. My concern is what will be my fate if I permanently lose my number. Will I also lose my cash in my momo account”, a subscriber quizzed.
Even though the NCA is yet to provide some details on what happens, some subscribers have stated that the money will be safe as long as there is record to show funds in momo accounts.
“I have heard that the money sits with the banks and not the telcos. It means that if the telcos permanently block your account, your money is still with the bank. There must be a way to identify the owner for the person to get his or her money from the bank”, another subscriber said.
Deadline extended several times
The SIM card registration was extended several times by the Ministry of Communications after calls to prolong the exercise to enable subscribers who are yet to receive their Ghana cards to do so.
Most of the telcos complained of logistic constraints after the postponement, citing cost of the exercise.
After several postponements the NCA and Ministry decided to roll out sanctions in phases to compel subscribers to re-register their SIMs.
After deadline
After the deadline, subscribers who failed to re-register their SIMs will not be able to make calls, receive calls and text messages.
Telcos are required to block all such lines from accessing any service.