NDC urges questioning of minister on phone tapping

Accra (Greater Accra) 05 July 2002 - The Greater Accra Regional Executive of the NDC has appealed to Parliament to invite the Minister of Communication and Technology to explain media reports on mass phone tapping by the Government security agencies.

In a release to the press, and signed by Mr Joshua Alabi, chairman of the Greater Accra NDC Regional branch, referred to Mr Owusu-Adjapong’s appeal to Mobitel on 5 June 2002, to allow the security agencies to use their outfit to monitor the use of equipment.

It argued that, “phone tapping is illegal and a blatant violation of the right and freedoms of Ghanaians and persons resident in Ghana.” The NDC said the order by the minister may be a hint of what is to come and called parliament to initiate action to protect individual liberty and privacy.

“Parliament has a duty to stop the executive from eavesdropping on the conversation of citizens, since such totalitarian measures breed fear and insecurity among the populace,” it said. According to NDC executive, the public is becoming increasingly alarmed and asked the telephone companies to take steps to allay the fears of the public.

They must also assure their customers that they are not in league with the government and the security agencies to harass innocent citizens. Again, the telephone companies must confirm that they have not made any room available on their premises to the security agencies. To Parliament, the NDC executive said, it should introduce legislations to “curb any willful intrusion into the privacy of Ghanaians.”