Ranking Member on Parliament's Communications Committee, Sam George, has said he is yet to register his SIM card because he does not have a Ghana Card.

The Ningo-Prampram legislator explained that he does not have the card because he turned down a protocol service offered by the National Identification Authority (NIA)’s office in the constituency.

In an interview on Prime Morning, Sam George said he would use the regular process to acquire the Ghana Card; however, that will happen after his residents – who registered in February, this year – have received theirs.

“I don’t have a Ghana Card because I have been offered the opportunity of protocol service – I find that disingenuous. I am being offered that because I am a Member of Parliament.

"The people who voted for me in Ningo-Prampram have been registering in the Prampram office since February [but] they haven’t received their cards.

“So, why should I be given a protocol service? My argument has been simple; I want to register in the Prampram office but I would only register and get my card after those who registered before me in my constituency have been given their cards.

“If the NIA cannot produce the cards for the people in my constituency, who have registered since February, the NIA should not be in the position to produce my card for me on the same day,” he told Roselyn Felli.

The National Identification Card (Ghana Card) which is a fundamental requirement for the exercise is not readily available to every Ghanaian.

Sam George, therefore, believes the Communications Ministry is not being realistic with the deadline set for the exercise.

He said the process is being rushed.

Meanwhile, the National Communications Authority (NCA) has announced punitive measures against users who have not registered their SIM cards.

According to a statement signed by the Authority’s Director-General, outgoing calls and data services for a sequential batch of numbers will be blocked for 2 days weekly on a rotational basis, beginning September 5, 2022.