The Communications Ministry has cautioned persons involved in the selling of pre-registered SIM cards.

According to the Ministry, the move is illegal and has punitive repercussions.

Such persons could be imprisoned for up to five years - the Communications Ministry has stated.

In a press statement issued on Sunday, the Ministry said the National Communications Authority (NCA) has been ordered to conduct investigations into the matter.

"Let me remind all SIM card vendors that it is an offence to pre-register and sell SIM cards. The NCA has been directed to conduct mystery shopping and enforce the law against those miscreants. If found guilty, they could be imprisoned for up to five years."

Meanwhile, the Ministry has also warned that SIM Cards that have been linked to Ghana Cards but are not completely registered will be blocked at the end of October.

It explained that the non-blockage of those SIM Cards currently does not amount to an extension of the September deadline.

According to the release, it is rather a “temporary moratorium.”

A moratorium, which is to serve as an incentive to those subscribers to fully register their Cards.

“All SIM Cards that have been linked to Ghana Cards (i.e. completed Stage 1 registration), but have not completed their Stage 2 registration will be blocked from the end of October.

“This is not an extension of the deadline, but a temporary moratorium to encourage these individuals to complete the process. If they have any peculiar challenges, they should contact the NCA.

“These good people have the Ghana card, have started the process, and will be encouraged to complete it with this gentle reminder. All other unregistered SIMs will also be blocked progressively,” the statement said.