Iddrisu: Government would not encroach on privacy of individuals

Accra, May 17, GNA - Government has no intention of encroaching on the privacy of individuals with the implementation of the Consolidated International Gateway Project, aimed at monitoring all in-bound international calls.

Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, Communication Minister, who gave the assurance, said government was committed to "utmost transparency and involvement of stakeholders' in the implementation of the project. The Minister, who was speaking at a forum, organised by the National Communication Authority (NCA), to mark this year's World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, in Accra on Monday, said that the political administration would adhere to the amendment to the Electronic Communications Act, which protected privacy of the individual. The forum that was on the theme: "Improving ICT Services Together for a Better Ghana", offered consumers of telecommunication services the opportunity to express their concerns and seek solutions from the NCA and management of telecommunications companies.

Mr Iddrisu said that the Project, which related to the management of international telephone traffic termination in the country, aimed at checking fraud in the operations of the international gateway system. He said it would also help to control "grey routes" and enhance both operator and revenue generation potential in the domestic and international telecom market place.

Mr. Iddrisu said that the Project was expected to stem fraud in the pricing of in-bound international calls, particularly in cases where some international calls terminate as local calls and therefore accrue less charge. He said "we wish to assure you that government is taking the issue of the security of the internet very serious. The Ministry of Communications is developing regulations on operational e-security to check unauthorised access to computer systems or their databases, disruption or denial of service and changes to software without knowledge or consent." Mr. Iddrisu announced government's intention to provide broadband internet connectivity to 38 Training Colleges by the end of this year. Mr. Kofi Totobi Quakyi, Board Chairman of NCA, said the World Telecommunication Day was set aside globally to increase awareness of the advantages of Information Communication Technology in human development, discuss the possibilities of potentials for development and ways of bridging the digital divide. 17 May 10