'Spy Bill' Is NDC's Brainchild To Intercept 2016 Election Results - Buabeng Asamoah

Lawyer Yaw Buabeng Asamoah, Parliamentary Candidate for the Adentan Constituency in the Greater Accra region on the ticket of the opposition NPP has asserted that the ‘Spy Bill’ is a brain child of the ruling NDC to intercept and change results of the upcoming general elections as was done in the 2012 elections.

According to him, the ‘Spy Bill’ is a replacement for the Superlock Technologies Limited (STL) the NDC and the Electoral Commission used to change the final results in the 2012 elections, alleging that the ‘Spy Bill’ when passed will serve the same purpose for the NDC in November 2016.

The Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunication Messages Bill, also known as ‘Spy Bill’ when passed by Parliament will give the government the power to listen in, tap, and record conversations of private individuals.

The Ministry of Interior said the bill is expected to help the government fight crime, and suppress organized crime in the areas of narcotic trafficking, identity theft, money laundering, and terrorism as well as the overall protection of national security.

Many private Ghanaians and civil societies including Private legal practitioners and the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) have petitioned Parliament to effect major changes in the bill before it is passed.

They argue the bill has some major implications for the rights, freedom and liberties of Ghanaians especially the right to privacy as guaranteed by the 1992 Constitution of the country.

But Lawyer Yaw Buabeng Asamoah who shares the views raised by many Ghanaians added on Okay FM’s 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show that, the ruling NDC will use the ‘Spy Bill’ to intimidate Ghanaians who may be conversing on phone about the unhealthy things the government is doing.

He insisted the NDC government through the ‘Spy Bill’ will intercept the conversations of some targeted people in order to frame them up as people who want to cause violence in the country.

He was baffled that the same energy and zeal the NDC government wants to pass the ‘Spy Bill’ has not been directed to the ‘Right to Information Bill’ which will rather put the government on check for corruption as the public can easily access information to know government dealings.

Meanwhile Security expert, Dr Kwesi Aning has said the time has come for Ghanaians to cede part of their freedom to the State for protection.

He said it is important for the country to put in place a set of institutional mechanisms and processes that allow Ghanaians to protect one another and have confidence in the system.

He described the Intelligent and Security Services Act 526, which gives birth to all the security operatives in the country as a failure.

Parliament is currently sifting through the memoranda submitted by private Ghanaians and some civil societies. It is believed that there are a lot of objections to the bill.

The Postal Packets and Telecommunication Messages Bill was referred to the Defense and Interior of Parliament last week by the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho.