SIM Card Registration YaMutu   23-Mar-2013

-Telecos Sabotage Customers ID Project -Register and Port numbers without IDs When the National Communication Authority (NCA) announced for SIM card registration and Mobile Number Portability (MNP) in January 18, 2010 and July 7, 2011 respectively, many Ghanaians heaved a sigh of relief, believing that it would curb a lot of criminal activity associated with the use of mobile phones. However, with the present trend of people just registering existing and new SIMs and porting existing cell phone numbers to other networks without providing any form of identification as required by the legislative framework regulating the exercise, obviously, renders the whole exercise that precious state resources were used to advertise needless. Noble as the exercise was, particularly when the NCA announced during its sensitization program prior to the start of the registration that the exercise will help curb incidents such as loss of phone through theft, nuisance text messages, scams, threats, raising unnecessary alarms or creating panic, deliberately or otherwise, traders who hawk SIM cards; sometimes acting as agents for some of the telecom operators, per our investigation register SIM cards or port numbers without requesting for any required identification card. In this, existing or new prospective subscribers, who intend to use the SIM card to perpetrate fraud or other nefarious activities, manage to register or port their numbers with fake names, fictional residential address and imaginary dates of birth. In line with the licensing requirement of all the telecom operators as provided for in the Electronic Communication Act, Act 775, 2008, which mandates all telecom operators to keep the data of their subscribers, in order to register a new or an existing SIM card, “individuals must provide a valid photo-ID such as; Driver’s License, Passport, NHIS card, Voter’s ID and National ID Card whiles foreigners are required to use passports or any other travel document. Several weeks of investigations by The Al-Hajj has shown that, in spite of the NCA’s description of such act as illegal and criminal, some agents of the telecom companies continues to use fake bio-data to register SIM cards, and then sell it at cut throat prices to people, mostly foreigners without the required ID cards. In most cases, those without the ID cards and who cannot afford the price of the ‘pre-registered” SIMs are allowed to provide their own unverifiable details to activate a SIM card. Worrying as this may be, our investigations also revealed that some registration agents aid and abet prospective new subscribers to port existing numbers of people to other networks, thereby robbing and cutting off the original owners of such numbers. The Al-Hajj has unearthed that some fraudsters, particularly those into cyber fraud approach registration agents without ID cards; and sometimes induce them with money to allow them port numbers of other existing subscribers, mostly beginning with either 0244, 0277, 0208, 0266 and 0233, which obviously does not belong to them, but in no time become theirs after porting. The notion is that, numbers beginning with such digits are owned by well to do or ‘big men’ in the society. For instance, if these crooks want to port an MTN number to Tigo, the one wanting to port will approach the agent and tell him, he wants to port MTN to Tigo, but he is without any ID card and the SIM card of the number he wants to port. Because the agents are paid based on the number of SIMs ported and in the bid to port as many SIMs as possible, the registration agent will remark “give me something and I will do it for you.” The agent will then take the fake details of the imposter porting the number and then coach him by saying “when you get home, insert the MTN chip you want to port to Tigo into your phone and send PORT to 6060 as a message…wait for a while, you will receive a message from 7070, after that remove the MTN chip and insert the Tigo chip and dial 842…load two cedisTigo recharge card on it and start using it.” During the investigation, it was unraveled that because the imposter/s are not able to get the numbers they want to port immediately, they manage to use other people’s IDcards (lost cards) to get the original number they had parted from the service providers through very crafty means. For instance, they go with lost ID cards of other innocent people to get the numbers under the pretext of replacing a lost SIM card. They then use the number for a number of ‘operations’ including defrauding unsuspecting foreigners and sometimes Ghanaians. A typical case in point was when the NCA on February 6, 2012 released a report, which indicated that of all the ID cards submitted for verification that year, a colossal 5,580,875 came out as registered with invalid ID cards. Surprising, however, The Al-Hajj uncovered that should all telecom operators in Ghana decide to go according to provisions in the SIM Registration Regulation, LI 2006, which legally mandates operators to legally deactivate all unregistered SIMs in the country, millions of subscribers will be disengaged, despite having ‘duly’ registered their SIMs. This is because; many subscribers, who have registered their SIMS as far back as 2010, still have their registration pending. Ordinarily, subscribers this reporter approached when asked to send a blank message on their phones to 400 on all networks to confirm their registration status, either receive this message “confirmation of your registration is still pending; however, please be assured your number will not be disconnected. Visit any of our office to re-register your earliest convenience,” or receive messages on their phones that their SIMs have been registered in another person’s name. Watertight Evidence For the avoidance of doubt, this reporter managed to register MTN, TIGO, AIRTEL, GLO AND VODAFONE SIMs with five different bio-data without any ID card and ported and existing AIRTEL number in a different name, also without an ID card. Numbers below were registered by this reporter with different bio-data; Number: 0543741517 Name: Ibrahim Ali Date of Birth: September 2, 1988 Number: 0508787850 Name: Nii Armah Aayittey Date of Birth: January 5, 1983 Number: 0263663822 Name: Michael Adu Gyamfi Date of Birth: March 18, 1984 Number: 057484171 Name: Isaac Somuah Date of Birth: December 10, 1981 Number: 0236888470 Name: Michael Dodzi Date of Birth: August 9, 1984

Appiah: Sudan game is the most important       23-03-2013

Ghana coach has urged his Black Stars not to look at the table rather concentrate on their FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Sudan. The Black Stars head into the match in Kumasi sitting second and three points behind Zambia in the group and know nothing less than three points are likely keep them in the hunt of reaching the top. Kwesi Appiah says there is still a long road to go in the second round qualifying campaign, which reaches the halfway stage this weekend. "Our first two games mean nothing now. The most important game for us is the game against Sudan and that is what we are focusing on now," Appiah said. "It is a long road to reaching the finals in Brazil. And we must beat them [Sudan] to stay on track. The table is a reflection of results so far but our campaign has always been in our hands. "We must focus on beating Sudan and see where that takes us." After consecutive appearances at the finals in 2006 and 2010, the hopes of a third depends on what the present generation of Black Stars achieve in the qualifiers. For Appiah, the Black Stars can draw inspiration from two previous World Cup appearances in their bid to secure qualification for the 2014 finals in Brazil. "The World Cup is a great sporting event that every player dreams of. A few members of the present team have had that opportunity but I believe the rest can draw motivation from that. "They should have that desire of wanting to be in Brazil and make sure that they carry that dream through. "We need to go out there and take the points and keep on like that," the Ghana coach said.

Gyan set to face Sudan after scan showed no damage   23-Mar-2013

Asamoah Gyan will be contention for a place in Ghana's team for Sunday's 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Sudan after overcoming an injury scare. It had been feared that the Black Stars captain would miss the clash after he suffered a thigh problem during a test game on Thursday in Kumasi. The player was withdrawn as a precautionary measure after complaining of pain. But a scan on Friday morning revealed no damage. Despite receiving positive news, Ghana's team doctors will continue to monitor his progress ahead of the game at the Baba Yara Stadium.     Source: Ghanafa.org

There are 207 job areas in the movie industry – David Dontoh 

23-03-2013

David Dontoh

Ghanaian movie industry stakeholders are not relenting on their calls to business moguls, banks and governments give some attention to their industry.

They believe giving the industry some serious concentration will not only make it grow and improve the quality of movie production in Ghana but also go a long way to lessen the stress on the national economy.

Veteran actors David Dontoh and Akorfa Ejeani Asiedu reiterated the call on TV Africa, saying the movie industry had 207 job areas.

“The last time we checked, we had about 207 job areas” David Dontoh said.
Even though they did not enumerate the job areas, the movie industry employs actors, directors, cinematographers, costume designers, art directors, makeup artists, production managers, journalists, accountants, drivers and a host of them.
Some other concerns about government supporting the movie industry were also raised.
Meanwhile, a lecture at the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI) stated that the industry stakeholders should be cautious of how they sought government intervention.
According to him, if government were given a total control of the movie industry, it could rather use it for political advantage and dictate to independent filmmakers, which should not be so.
He urged government to endeavor to create an enabling environment for the industry to flourish.

2013 Paragliding To Take Off On Easter Friday March 29 In Kwahu    2-Mar-2013

Director, Special Events, Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) Mr Ben Anane-Nsiah, has given assurance that all is set for this year’s paragliding festival on the Kwahu mountains. According to him, the eighth paragliding festival dubbed ‘Okwawu 2013’ is expected to take off on March 29 to April 1, 2013. In an interview, Mr Anane-Nsiah said the events would provide a good platform to highlight the tourism assets of the destination since the festival had boosted tourism to the Kwahu area and raised the profile of the Kwahu Easter celebrations. He indicated that the event was introduced mainly to focus attention on the Kwahu area, and make the Kwahu region a special zone during the Easter celebrations. According to him, ten paragliding pilots have been invited from the United States, France, Japan and Nepal to give visitors the opportunity to enjoy the paragliding experience, which would be complemented by a variety of side activities such as adventure hikes, musical shows and street carnivals. He further stated that accommodations are in place to host visitors, and assured that security would also be beefed up at the area due to the large number people who invade the town. “The numbers has increased and this year’s event promises to attract double the numbers.This event and other associated tourism activities have also impacted positively on the growth of hotels and the introduction of other related tourism sports like cave hiking in the Kwahu area” he said. He however noted that the road network from Nkwakwah to Etibie was not in its best shape, but assured that the District Assembly was working around the clock to put the road in good shape. He said the mandate of the GTA was to promote tourism both locally and internally, and that it was ready to support any activity which promotes both domestic and international tourism. “Our mandate is to drive tourism's development and its promotion”.       Source: GNA

Kanye West to name his child North

23-03-2013

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West

The rapper, 35, came up with a list of potential names for the baby due in July but North is at the top because he thinks it sounds good with his surname.

But the title is unlikely to go down well with girlfriend Kim, 32, whose family have a tradition of starting their first names with a K.

The reality star might also have a problem with her boyfriend’s next album title I Am God.

He is toying with the idea while he records new material.

A source said: “Kanye’s ego is something else, so he’s quite serious about the title.

“He also has a sense of humour though and knows how his self-indulgence is seen by the general public. It’s half tongue-in-cheek, half what Kanye probably feels is true.”

It is not the first time his ego has surfaced recently.

In December, the rapper complained onstage about the Grammys for failing to nominate his Watch The Throne or My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy releases for Album Of The Year.




Source: The Sun

Obrafour releases new album

23-03-2013

Obrafour and Lousika in the studio

Ghanaian rapper, Kwabena Okyere Darko, aka Obrafour is set to release a brand new song off his upcoming album with Paris born Ghanaian female rapper, Boss Chic LOUSIKA.

After his major collaboration with Sarkodie on the award winning “Saa Okodie No” track, Obrafour stages a grand return as one of Hiplife’s best artiste to influence the growth of the Ghanaian music industry over the years.

Obrafour is expected to release singles off the upcoming album later in the tear.

The songs on the album were recorded by Hammer of the Last Two Music Group.