Sam George, the deputy ranking member of Parliament’s Communications Committee, claims that Speaker Alban Bagbin’s official SIM card, which is registered in the name of Parliament, has been deactivated despite being properly registered.
The current member of parliament for Ningo Prampram claims this demonstrates the problems with the NCA’s present approach to blocking SIM cards. While addressing the House, he stated that the exercise is having a significant economic impact on many professions, including the Speaker’s.
“We should have had this briefing today if possible because we are talking about over 8 million SIM cards having been disconnected, including even the SIM card of the Speaker of Parliament. His official SIM card was disconnected, even though it was registered in the name of the Parliament of Ghana. We have judges, we have lawyers, we have doctors, and MPs whose SIM cards were disconnected even me my SIM card was also disconnected,” Sam George said.
He said it was high time to admit that the National Identification Authority (NIA), particularly its regional offices, had failed to meet its obligations to give ID cards to those who had applied for them. He further stated that the authority has to come before the House to explain the long wait times for Ghana cards.
“We are insisting that the National Identification Authority must provides us with the Ghana Card. Because, Mr. Speaker It is important that the Minister brief this house even if possible today because people’s livelihoods have been affected and people’s mobile monies, money they use for their transactions, have been stuck on their SIM cards due to the disconnection,” he added.
