Consumer agency to take Ghana mobile operators to court over SIM card registeration
The Consumer Protection Agency (CPA) has threatened to go to court to enforce government’s directive to mobile telecommunication operators to register SIM cards sold to their subscribers.
The CPA, a consumer rights advocate, said refusal of the operators to comply with the directive constituted a national security threat because many people were using unidentified phone numbers to engage in dubious activities.
These were contained in a petition to the Minister of Communications in Accra on Thursday and copied to the Office of the President.
The CPA said if SIM cards were registered, it would be easy for the National Security to identify individuals who generated text messages to cause the earthquake scare among the public last Sunday, January 17.
The petition said a CPA survey conducted late last year revealed that mobile telecommunication operators had been exploiting the Ghanaian consumer by charging high tariffs despite providing poor services.
“Telecommunication service providers in Ghana are charging almost 450 per cent above prices being charged by some of these service providers in other European countries,” it said.
The petition said it was expected that Vodafone’s entry into the industry would have led to increased competition resulting in provision of quality service at affordable rates but that was not the case.
It said that instead, the cost of broad band service of all the operators in the country was twice more expensive compared to similar service in Europe.
On emergency access lines, the statement said that the government failed to establish a centre which would handle such calls rendering the provision of such lines unproductive.
It asked the Minister of Communications to impress on the operators to reduce the prices as well as improve the quality of their services to the Ghanaian public.
The petition called on government to establish an emergency centre to handle emergency calls.
Source: GNA
It’s a pity, to say: countries like Ghana where majority of its unsuspecting citizens make less than 1$ per day are been robbed in the name of (mobile/communication technology) of their hard earn money,
Why should small countries like accept a large number of foreign communications companies I do not understand! Instead of targeting basic goods manufacturing companies, we allow this so call communication carriers to make free & easy money without toil, It’s a pity! Cause we have large number of corrupt both politician and ordinary citizens, Now: Ghana a thirdworld country is becoming a consumerism nation, we are heading for self destruction! Let’s save ourselves! With wisdom, logic and morality. Are the only remedy to save our country.
This is very surprising thing, even in India mobile consumer face too many problem with the mobile operator but in INDIA the Telecommunication ministry (TRAI) has already issued some guideline to the mobile operator, and if any consumer still have any problem then the consumer may knock the Special Court “Consumer Court” which is only to solve the consumer issue and can fine upto Rs. 5 crore (Approx. 1 million $ ) .
It is interesting Ghanaians prefer to talk widely about the need to deepen our democratic dispensation and ensure that we enjoy all the freedoms that come with a true democracy. It is all well and good. Indeed we have to fight to sustain the gains made so far. However we are becoming very selective in what we want see occur especially when it comes to this side of the coin – what matters to the consumer. The freedoms and rights of Ghanaians include the right to consumer protection.
The CPA must begin to open its doors to the other regional capitals so that people like us could make some contribution to the growth of the work of the agency. The work on education and rights for our people is not simple and easy. It will take long to to get there but I think by the strides we make with the advocacy agenda, and the gradual dealings we engage in with social groupings and educational institutions, somehow we will be sure to expand the awareness base we so damnly desire.
The crime of abuse on consumers from all fronts in the economy must end. God be our helper.