We’ve not breached your privacy, your personal data are secured - Vodafone

Vodafone Ghana has assured its customers of data security and has further rejected what it terms as ”misleading privacy claims”.

The company through a statement said it ”…has acted responsibly and transparently in abiding by the laws of Ghana and categorically rejects all claims that there has been a breach in the privacy rights of our valued customers. We will always uphold the rule of law and comply with our legal and regulatory obligations including the Data Protection Act”.

The company has come under criticism for admitting in court of giving personal data of customers to Kelni GVG.

The personal information includes (but not limited to) subscribers names, mobile phone numbers, call records, call locations and addresses and mobile money transaction details.

This came out at the hearing of a case which was brought by a private legal practitioner, Mr Francis Kwateng Arthur to challenge the constitutionality of the President’s Executive instrument No. 63 (EI 63).

But according to the company, information about customers, including subscriber information, also known as call data records (CDRs), remains encrypted and secure as the company takes data security and storage of personal information extremely seriously.

Our attention has been drawn to some information circulating on social media and online news websites concerning ‘breaches’ in the privacy rights of Vodafone Ghana customers. This information is a gross misrepresentation of the facts.

In March 2020, The President of Ghana, H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo, passed an Executive Instrument (E.I. 63) that mandated the mobile network operators, including Vodafone Ghana, to submit subscriber information known as call data records (CDRs) to the National Communications Authority (NCA).

This formed part of the government’s contact tracing initiative in the ongoing fight against COVID-19. All the mobile network operators complied with the E.I 63.

The Executive Instrument was subsequently challenged by a customer, who filed an application at the High Court for an injunction to stop all mobile network operators from sharing his data with the National Communications Authority (NCA).

Upon receipt of the injunction application, Vodafone Ghana immediately stopped the transmission of all subscriber data related to the contact tracing initiative, pending the court’s ruling on the case, scheduled for 23rd June 2020.

Vodafone Ghana has acted responsibly and transparently in abiding by the laws of Ghana and categorically rejects all claims that there has been a breach in the privacy rights of our valued customers. We will always uphold the rule of law and comply with our legal and regulatory obligations including the Data Protection Act.