Parliament\u2019s Defence and Interior Committee, has extended by two more weeks, the time-frame allotted for Ghanaians to submit inputs for the drafting and subsequent passage of the Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunication Messages Bill.<\/p>\n
The Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunication Messages Bill, if passed into law, will allow national security to tap, listen, record and monitor telecommunication messages.<\/p>\n
The Center for Democratic Development (CDD), had expressed concern about the time-frame given saying it was too limited for the public to make the needed input.<\/p>\n
[contextly_sidebar id=”LEK7trcUHNe2BQy92OpyYNxWzIEoUymm”]Some members of the minority in Parliament had raised similar concerns, and also expressed worry about the fact that the law could compromise privacy of citizens.<\/p>\n
On Monday, Parliament published a notice soliciting for inputs for the draft legislation. It said the deadline for the submission was today [Friday], February 19.<\/p>\n
CDD opposed to limited time <\/strong><\/p>\n But in an interview with Citi News<\/strong>, the Head of Research and Programs at CDD, Dr. Franklin Oduro, said a bill that stifles citizen\u2019s privacy requires ample time for sensitization and dialogue.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are saying that the time given is not good enough, considering the nature of this law. If the state of Ghana is going to enact a law that will allow the state and its agencies the authority to intercept and scrutinize communication and mails, it also suggests that the privacy of citizens will be undermined. If the privacy of the citizens, which our constitution guarantees, is going to be undermined, then any such law should have adequate time for public discussions so that people will know that at some point the state of Ghana would have the right to intercept their mail,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Dr. Oduro also said, \u201cWe need to know what the content of that law will be. At what point will the state intercept the messages and how do we ensure that the messages that are being intercepted, are not going to be used for anything other than what the law requires.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe think that the five-day notice for such an important law is too short. That is why we are calling on Parliament to provide adequate time for discussing the bill. More importantly, they should publicize the bill so that we can see what is in it.\u201d<\/p>\n The law is good, it will check crime<\/p><\/blockquote>\n A Deputy Ranking Member of the Committee, Major (rtd) Derrick Oduro, told Citi News<\/strong>, if the public have any meaningful suggestions they can submit to the committee.<\/p>\n He debunked suggestions that the law will compromise citizens\u2019 privacy, saying it is a good law needed to check crime.<\/p>\n \u201cThey can bring their input and we will include it. If they so wish that they have something to contribute for us to make a very good law. The Bill seeks to empower for the lawful interception of postal packets and communication messages. That is the aim. And the idea is to fight organised crime such as drug trafficking, terrorism and the likes. It will look at those who are considered to be criminals; if you are not a criminal, you are not part of it,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n \u2013<\/p>\n By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
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