Vodafone buys back SIM cards from vendors

Vodafone Ghana has instructed its distributors to stop selling new SIM cards on the market in compliance with a directive from the National Communications Authority.

The company has also affirmed that it has sent no new SIM cards onto the market, and that it is gradually buying back cards from vendors, retailers and customers who had stocked them before the ban was imposed.

The buy-back is a proactive step by the company to prevent a situation wherein customers will buy the SIMs and not be able to activate them.

According to a release signed by Chief Executive Officer Haris Broumidis and copied to the B&FT, the mop-up exercise is currently on-going -- with figures from trade showing some positive results.

The company also wishes to inform its customers that no new SIMs will be activated in the network after Saturday June 21 up to the time that the ban by the NCA will be lifted.

"We have always remained a good corporate citizen, committed to working within the parameters of Ghana's regulatory and legal regimes for the telecommunications industry.

"The company's focus is to deliver a differentiated customer experience within the sector. This will be achieved by continuing to invest in infrastructure to meet the needs of our customers and offer them memorable moments at our various touch-points," the statement read.