Independent advocacy group, the Consumer Protection Agency (CPA), is calling for intensified public education on the registration of mobile phone SIM cards, as the July 2011 deadline draws closer. The National Communication Authority is implementing the new policy which mandates all telecom operators in Ghana to register subscribers’ SIM cards. New SIM card holders have had to provide their personal details backed by an official identity document to the service provider before they can make calls with the new SIM. Existing mobile phone subscribers however have up to July this year to register their SIM cards. According to Chief Executive of the CPA, Kofi Kapito, the registration exercise has been carried out in a ‘fair manner’. He however observed a number of people with SIM cards, especially in the hinterlands, may not have registered their after the deadline because of limited information. Mr. Kapito says there is the need for increased sensitization for majority of the people to have their SIMs registered. “It’s a matter of the Ministry of Information and the National Communication Authority ensuring that these mobile networks, whether through joint decision, to do a lot of public information. Yes they’ve done some public information but I think it wouldn’t hurt to do more, especially when we’re approaching the next five or six months to the deadline. “We [CPA] shall actually intensify the public information and education as it is important for security purposes that everybody complies and go and register”, he stated. People who with unregistered SIMs may not be able to make calls at the end of the registration exercise. Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh/Luv Fm/Ghana