KOFI ANOKYE OWUSU-DARKO (BLOG 1)

  What is the purpose of digitization? What is the purpose of digitalization? What is the purpose of capturing user biometrics? What is the purpose of the SIM registration? There can be so many textbook answers to the questions, but the simple and ultimate goal is for Consumer protection and convenience as well as for Organization efficiency and seamless service delivery. We have been asked to register our SIM Cards and the touted reason is for our protection against fraudulent activities which is laudable. The registration process, however, has not been without issues because the system design is flawed and seems not to have been developed from the users’ or consumers’ experience perspective. Technology is an enabler but if not well designed can be a burden, costly without achieving the needed benefits to both the Consumer and the Organization. It will bring more inconvenience to the Consumer and a waste of resources to the Organization. This is what I see in the SIM registration sy

  This is the second time the National Communication Authority (NCA) is undertaking a mandatory registration of SIM cards. The first time I wrote about its impact on Universal Access Obligations of the State as per the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) perspective for which Ghana is a proud member. I am compelled this time to do so again but from a legal perspective, both International and Constitutional. Under Article 17, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966 (ICCPR,1996) “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person” and “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful inference with his privacy , family, home or  correspondence , nor to unlawful attacks on his honour and reputation” and “Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks” . Under Article 4, African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) “Human beings are inviolable. Every human being shall be entitled to respec