CDD fights 'spy' bill

The Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) is opposing the passage of the Interception of Postal Packets and Telecoms Messages Bill, 2016, indicating that the general public should be given enough time to make inputs.

In a press statement released on 18 February 2016 and signed by Communications Officer Mina Okuru, the CDD expressed displeasure over what it said was the failure of parliament to also make public a copy of the proposed bill.

The Centre said the bill would have an enormous impact on the rights of citizens and said there was the need for wide consultation and debate on the merits of the legislation.

“We are by this protest calling on parliament to demonstrate credible commitment to the principles of ‘open government’ in the discharge of its duties as a body of representatives of the people. As a taxpayer-funded democratic governance institution, the parliament of Ghana must eschew all inclinations towards tokenism,” the statement indicated.

The centre is rallying public support to join a protest against the “injustice and subterfuge that is about to be perpetrated on the blind side of the citizens of Ghana”.

Meanwhile the Deputy Ranking Member of the Defence and Interior Committee, Major Derek Oduro (rtd) has indicated that the bill is meant to spy on only people considered as a security threat to the nation.

He said the purpose of the bill is to help fight crime.

Speaking to Class News’ parliamentary correspondent, Ekow Annan, he said: “The object of the bill or the purpose of the bill is to fight crime, suppress organised crime including money laundering, terrorism, narcotic trafficking, identifying theft, and, generally, for the protection of national security. That is the objective of the bill.”