STRANEK-Africa is urging Telcos in the country not to furnish President Akufo-Addo with personal information of all subscribers.
The policy think tanks in a letter to the telcos say the move by the President is a cunning way to undermine and subvert individual freedoms using public interest or national security as an excuse.
According to STRANEK-Africa, On 23rd March, 2020, a fiat was issued by President Akufo-Addo mandating all telecommunication service providers to furnish him with the personal information of all subscribers using section 100 of Executive Instrument 63 (E.I. 63).
STRANEK-Africa is worried that this power will enable the President to suspend the fundamental rights of citizens at any time. "We consider it exploitative in the name of the pandemic COVID-19, unconstitutional autocratic, unjustifiable and unproportionate."
Read full statement below:
9th April, 2020.
Dear Sir,
PROTECT PRIVACY RIGHTS IN THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA
We hope this finds you in good health.
STRANEK-Africa is a Policy think tank/Civil Society Organization with interest in policy research, reform, security and anti-corruption.
We write in respect of certain special powers given to the President, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo under section 100 of the Establishment of Emergency Communications System Instrument, 2020 (Executive Instrument 63).
Per section 100 of Executive Instrument 63 (E.I. 63), the President could assume direct control of the telecommunications and determine their operations. This power will enable him to suspend the fundamental rights of citizens at any time. We consider it exploitative in the name of the pandemic COVID-19, unconstitutional autocratic, unjustifiable and unproportionate.
On 23rd March, 2020, a fiat was issued by the President mandating all telecommunication service providers to furnish him with the personal information of all subscribers.
We humbly request you to protect the privacy rights of your cherished customers in Ghana since the E.I. is a cunning way to undermine and subvert individual freedoms using public interest or national security as an excuse.
We look forward to your expedited response.
Yours faithfully,
Nii Tettey Tetteh Emmanuel Osei
Executive Director Director of Policy and Political Affairs
+233 559 042 914 +47 412 45 303
Cc: Vodafone Group Plc
MTN Group Limited Innovation
Globacom Limited
Airtel Tigo Limited
National Communication Authority
Bank of Ghana
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