Yaw Opoku Mensah, NPP Communications Team Member
In a startling departure from the official government narrative, Yaw Opoku Mensah, a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) communications team, has characterized the ongoing SIM re-registration exercise as a calculated scheme to provide financial relief to party “footsoldiers.”
Call for a Boycott
Mr. Opoku Mensah questioned the technical necessity of the exercise, suggesting that existing systems already suffice for data verification.
“The verification process remains active via the *402# shortcode. By simply providing your Ghana Card number and date of birth, every SIM linked to your identity appears. Why, then, is there a need for a new registration process?” he queried, subsequently calling for a boycott of the initiative.
Allegations of Political Patronage:
In a blunt assessment, the NPP communicator claimed that the initiative publicly framed as a national security priority doubles as a mechanism to quell rising discontent among party grassroots demanding employment.
“We need government funds to sustain our footsoldiers, support our households, and fund campaign and party activities,” he stated.
He further suggested that recruiting loyalists to manage the registration process is a strategic move to “quiet the noise” regarding the lack of jobs for party supporters.
Internal Pressure and National Security:
The explosive remarks highlight an internal struggle to manage frustration among the NPP rank and file.
Opoku Mensah warned that without such interventions, grassroots anger could soon be directed toward government appointees and the presidency itself.
While the Ministry of Communications and Digitalization and the National Communications Authority (NCA) have consistently defended the exercise as vital for data integrity and national security, these new allegations cast a shadow over that justification.
The narrative now shifts toward whether a critical national policy is being leveraged for political patronage.
Broader Political Context;
Adding another layer to the discourse, former President John Dramani Mahama has previously emphasized the importance of SIM registration in strengthening national systems.
However, he has yet to comment on these specific allegations of internal fund channeling emerging from the ruling party.
Source: Ghana/otecmfghana.com/ Michael Ofosu-Afriyie, Kumasi.
