The Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation has extended the deadline for the re-registration of SIM cards across the country to 31st July, 2022.

The exercise was originally scheduled to end on 31st March, 2022.

In a statement signed by the sector Minister, Ursula Owusu on Tuesday, the Ministry explained that it has taken note of the challenges which have characterized the process since it began in October last year.

"As at 17th March, 14,091,542 SIM Cards have been linked to the Ghana Card, 10,348,532 Bio-Captures conducted and 99,445 New SIMS registered. Due to a number of factors including the fact that over 7.5 million citizens and residents are yet to obtain Ghana Cards to enable them register their SIM cards, it is clear that the deadline for completion of the registration of the remaining active SIM cards cannot be met".

According to the Ministry, based on the said challenges, there's the need for citizens to be given more room to comply with the directive, hence the extension of the deadline for the mandatory registration process.

"More time will also be required to update the SIM Registration App for the registration of diplomats, while a Self-Service SIM Registration App is also being developed to facilitate registration of SIM cards for Ghanaians resident abroad. This will be operational by mid April.

The Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation has therefore extended the deadline for the registration of Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards to 31st July, 2022", portions of the statement read.