SIM Card registration will ensure sanity - Ofosu-Ampofo

Koforidua Oct. 16 GNA - Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Eastern Regional Minister, has indicated that the registration of Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards would bring sanity into the system, saying, it is a step in the right direction.

He observed that when one travels outside the country it is not easy to have access to cell phones, unlike in Ghana where an individual could at anytime, buy a SIM card and use it to send threatening or insulting text

messages and then throw it away.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said this he hosted a team from the National Communications Authority (NCA), at his office, in Koforidua, on Friday.

The team, led by Mr John Benyarku Essamuah, is currently in the region to hold seminars for stakeholders, such as media personnel, on the registration of cell phones.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo recalled an instance where after leading a task force to confiscate illegal chainsaw lumber, he started receiving threatening text messages on his cell phone.

He said Democracy and the Freedom of Expression must go with responsibilities and advised Ghanaians to be guided by history and not to go the "Rwandan way."

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo mentioned, in particular, armed robbers who were using cell phones to commit atrocities due to the fact that they could not be tracked and said the registration would make Ghanaians more secure.

He directed the Municipal and District Assemblies in the area to incorporate the programme in their educational campaign and also to resource the Information Services Department (ISD) to intensify their sensitization programmes in the communities.

Mr Essamuah, for his part, noted with concern the way some people abused the use of cell phones by using unprintable words on high office holders on the air waves and said Ghana's democracy could suffer a setback if that scenario was not checked.

He appealed for support from the regional minister to enable the message on the registration exercise reach the rural communities, especially, farmers and fishermen.

Mr Essamuah reiterated that anyone who failed to register his or her SIM card before June 30 next year would not be able to use his cell phone.