The National Communications Authority has given a 90 day extension for mobile phone users to register their chips. The decision was taken in consultation with the telecom operators, officials of the NCA have indicated. “We are willing and we have discussed this comprehensively with the operators and we have all agreed that we will open a 90 day window during which period we will look to clean up or sanitize the data that relates to invalid registration, the Director General of the Authority, Paa Rock Van Persie told journalists in Accra on Monday. The extension comes after persistent calls by policy think-tank IMANI for the NCA to extend the deadline given the many challenges associated with the registration process. The NCA only days ago stated emphatically it was not going to extend the deadline and warned all subscribers to register their numbers on or before the June 30 deadline. The Authority threatened to deactivate all subscribers who fail to register their numbers after the deadline elapses. Some lawyers questioned the powers of the NCA to deactivate the contact numbers of subscribers but Authority appeared unmoved. In a sudden twist officials of NCA on Monday announced its decision to extend the deadline for a period of three months. Paa Rock Van Persie said some seven million subscribers may have to be re-registered because of the challenges confronted in the registration process. “Out of the returns of in excess 17 million that we got, 10.3 of those were validly registered and something close to about five million invalidly registered,” he noted. With three days to go for the deadline, the Director General said it was necessary for the extension. Corporate and Consumer Affairs Manager of the NCA, Mawuko Zormelo dismissed the assertion that the extension was borne out of pressure from IMANI and other civil society groups. Laughing heartily at the assertion, Mr Zormelo said the exercise was not meant to be punitive, adding the decision was in consultation with the operators and was not taken under any duress or pressure. “We live in a community. So we listen, and we would want to be seen as an extremely competent organization that does things right,” he said. He said after the three months grace period the exercise will still be reviewed. Meanwhile, the Executive Director of IMANI, Franklin Cudjoe welcomed the extension. He congratulated the NCA for taking the right decision even if it was not as a result of pressure from IMANI. He stated though that merely extending the date will not resolve some of the teething challenges associated with the registration. He charged the Authority to take concrete measures to ensure that those who register use the right identity. He argued the three months period is only an opportunity for the NCA to get the legal backing before going along with its threat. He told Joy News IMANI does not see the extension as a vindication of its stance but rather a decision that will be in the paramount interest of the country. Franklin Cudjoe advised the Authority to open up the registration process so subscribers can go and verify their data as is done with registration with the Electoral Commission. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana