Fear of phone bugging grips public

Fears have been raised in both business and political circles as to the real motives behind the government’s request for access to the operations of the new GSM communication network, set up by Millicom Ghana (Mobitel), which was commissioned early last week.

The request was made conditional by the Government for its approval of the commencement of the service, apart from the $500,000 penalty paid by the company for importing the equipment into the country, without the permission of the National Communication Authority.

Part of the conditions, laid down in the approval letter, signed by Mr Felix Owusu Agyapong, Minister for Communications stated: “You are also expected to make a room available on your premises for the National Communications Authority (NCA) and/or security agencies to monitor the use of the equipments as and when necessary.

Already, the public has been complaining about telephone bugging, in contravention of the Constitution. However, until this latest development, the cellular phone system had been considered as the safest form of communication in the country. Eyebrows are therefore being raised as to why the government wants to intrude into the privacy of the individual citizens, cutting across both official and private business, as well as personal affairs.