The Deputy Communications Director for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Rabi Salifu, has urged the National Identification Authority (NIA) to step up its game in the issuance of Ghana Cards to Ghanaians.

In a conversation with Roselyn Felli on Prime Morning, Tuesday, she indicated that some pregnant women and other vulnerable individuals are involved in the registration process, thus requiring leniency and speed from the NIA.

"I'm urging the NIA to step up their game. They should look at how best they can do it. They should actually look into their work ethics. They should make it disability- or vulnerability-friendly, so that if these people show up, it's first come, first served," she said. 

In addition, she said, "let’s see the mitigating efforts we can put in place to ease the pressure."

https://youtu.be/tBIcbt_HShE

According to her, the punitive measure issued by the Communication and Digitalisation Ministry whereby unregistered SIM cards have been blocked, is a way of ensuring recalcitrant people partake in the exercise.

Hajia Rabi Salifu believes the measures are good and will help speed up the SIM card re-registration exercise.

"These measures that people have found harsh, to me, they're still in place. If there’s a need to adjust, we adjust. There’s no need to rush to do things. We might end up losing quality because some people might come out to start doing illegal things around it," she said.

The Deputy Communications Director is of the opinion that deadline adjustment will be required if there is a need, admitting that change is a process.

Meanwhile, speaking on the show, the Deputy National Youth Organiser for the NDC, Eric Edem Agbana, urged the Communication and Digitalisation Minister to collaborate with the NIA in the SIM card re-registration process as the Ghana Card is the only document required for the exercise.

"All we’re asking for the Ministry to do is to work with the NIA and ensure that every Ghanaian who deserves the Ghana Card gets it before they begin to impose sanctions," he stated.

He added that the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the Communications Minister have no authority to block unregistered SIM cards.

Mr. Agbana affirmed that it is unlawful to discharge punitive measures through the blocking of SIM cards without using legal instruments.

He revealed that the NDC national executive is planning to sue the Communications Ministry if SIM cards are still blocked after the September 30, 2022 deadline.