EFFECT OF BLOCKING UNREGISTERED RURAL SIM USERS AND UNIVERSAL SERVICE OBLIGATIONS: SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED?
INTRODUCTION Registration of SIM cards by users has become an obligation after the directive by the National Communication Authority (NCA) and all telecommunication service users have been given a deadline and ultimatum to register or be cut off from the service. The principle of registration of SIM cards is a laudable idea which is in the interest of the ordinary Ghanaian not only to protect ourselves but to be able to receive the kind of personalized services that technology can bring because we can be identified with the ownership of the SIM. Like any personal data collection exercise it comes with its own a likely abuse of the collected data which may put the very Ghanaian in whose interest the registration is being done at grave risk especially with the absence of a Data Protection Act. Countries that have done this like South Africa have put in place a sector specific law “The Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act (RI