Ghana needs telecommunication message law - Gbevlo-Lartey

The Former National Security Coordinator, Colonel Larry Gbevlo-Lartey (retired) has suggested that Ghana urgently needs telecommunication message bill to fight terrorism and money laundering.

He entreated the security apparatus, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), legal practitioners and other stakeholders to analyse the Bill by putting it in the local context for the benefit of the citizenry.

‘Let’s contribute to the discussion to make it fit in our circumstances so that it can gain legitimacy, and then we pass it. What I want to say is that we really need that law, and the way to do it is for all stakeholders to get interested. And discuss it critically, if there are any portions we think are subject to abuse, we address that,’ he submitted.

Parliament is considering the passage of the new legislation-Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunication message Bill 2016, aimed at fighting terrorism, money laundering and transnational criminal activities.

The Bill, if passed into law, will allow personnel of National Security to listen, record, monitor, intercept or tamper with telecommunication messages and postal packets.

According to the security capo, the benefit of such a bill transcends the borders of Ghana, and that internationally it cannot be the weakest link.

‘This is a very crucial bill, it’s very important for our politics, security; now you will have to note that we are in a globalised ruled-based digital world today, and you know there are no risk-free zones, Ghana cannot be the weakest link in it all,’ he stated.

He suggested that Ghana needs to cooperate with countries which have passed this bill.

‘Now various countries have this bill, now what we have decided to do is to also come up with the bill or the law, which is a necessity, we need it, we can’t run away from it, so it’s good the bill has been put up,’ he said.

Speaking on Ultimate breakfast show hosted by Prince Minkah, he explained that there is no room for impunity as Ghana is bound by the European standard.

‘There is complete judicial oversight in the running of affairs so far as this thing is concerned. So this is not a matter of impunity. So it’s not like security people getting up and doing what they like. I think the draft virtually went along the European standard of doing things,’ he stated.