SIM card registration: Why join long queues when it could be done digitally? - Some Ghanaians

Hundreds of people throng NIA, Telco offices for SIM card re-registration

Crowds to serve as COVID-19 spreader

No need for biometric registration using the Ghana card; some Ghanaians

The micro-blogging site, Twitter, has once again been set ablaze as photos and videos of people joining long queues at the National Identification Authority (NIA)

Read full articleand telecommunication operators offices across the country have popped up.

The re-registration of Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards commenced on Friday, October 1, 2021, and is expected to end on March 31, 2022.

People who fail to re-register their SIM will have it blocked.

As the deadline draws nigh, several people have thronged the premises of the NIA and the telcos to join long queues to get their Ghana card and biometric registration of their SIM cards done, respectively.

Reacting to this growing development, tweeps have wondered why the re-registration exercise could not be done digitally.

Others suggested that these telcos have applicants on scheduled dates to avoid the crowd and curb the spread of COVID-19.

In some tweets sighted by GhanaWeb, a user by the name Abraham Bansi said, "A simple phone app or website to let applicants book preferred time to visit the office will reduce this mess, but no, there is this inexplicable joy public servants have when they see their fellow Ghanaians queueing for hours to access a service… Ghana card"

"Why do we have to join queues to register everything in Ghana? This Ghana card /sim registration thing we fit do am online but naa dem say we for join in the queue," another tweep said.

"Biometric data was collected during Ghana card registration, now linking your SIM card to same Ghana card requires taking of another biometric data. Doesn't make sense. (Just creating long queues)," another tweep said.

Goldenflyboy said, "Why should we go to the various networks offices for biometric verification whilst it's already on our Ghana card? what sort of stress is that"

"A simple phone app or website to let applicants book preferred time to visit the office will reduce this mess, but no, there is this inexplicable joy public servants have when they see their fellow Ghanaians queueing for hours to access a service… Ghana card"

The SIM card re-registration exercise is to monitor and track down persons who use their phones for criminal activities.

TWI NEWS

Read some tweets on the long queue at various NIA and telcos offices below.

These connection men in government always want to steal from Ghanaians through any means. EC used $100M biometric registration, NIA used $1.2B for the registration of ghana card. Instead of Ursula Owusu ordering for exchange of data for this sim registration, see the stress.

— ANNAN PERRY ARHIN (@AnnanPerry) January 5, 2022

Why should we go to the various networks offices for biometric verification whilst it’s already on our Ghana card?what sort of stress is that

— Goldenflyboy???????????? (@Mubbyjnrr) January 4, 2022

This ghana card-sim registration thing, be like they’ll block my SIM o because I don’t have time for this queue. Why do you have to capture our biometrics again if NIA has that information and we are using our GHANA CARD??? Why can’t we just link it and go?

— your local 6ft amazon✨ (@NaaDei____) January 5, 2022

Biometric data was collected during Ghana card registration, now linking your SIM card to same Ghana card requires taking of another biometric data. Doesn't make sense. (Just creating long queues)

My country ????????

— lfctillidie (@lfctillidie2) January 5, 2022

Everyone seems to be talking about the Ghana card and the long queues with all these stress which I totally agree….but why is no one talking about how they promoting the spread of COVID
This same government that is supposedly following COVID protocols ????????????‍♀️

— localGirl???????? (@benyta5) January 5, 2022

After being in huge queues to get your Ghana Card, same energy to register your Sim card. Why can't it be done Online.... National Streessss ????????????

— ɴꜱᴀᴡᴀᴍ ᴍᴀʏᴏʀ ● (@__mrkenn) January 5, 2022

A simple phone app or website to let applicants book preferred time to visit the office will reduce this mess, but No, there is this inexplicable joy public servants have when they see their fellow Ghanaians queueing for hours to access a service… Ghana card

— abraham bansi (@MrBansii) January 5, 2022

Why do we have to join queues to register every in Ghana? This Ghana card /sim registration thing we fit do am online but naa dem say we for join in the queue????????????????

— The T-Shirt???? PLUG???? (@phranqselorm) January 5, 2022