Don’t fear ‘Spy Bill’ — Speaker
The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, has assured Ghanaians that the Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages Bill, 2015, will be scrutinised in an open and transparent manner.
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He said all stakeholders and members of the public would be given the opportunity to, within the rules of Parliament, raise issues of concern and make inputs to the work of the House on the bill to ensure that the nation had satisfactory and wholesome legislation enacted for the prevention and suppression of crime in the national interest.
According to him Parliament would do an open job to protect all and safeguard national security.
Mr Adjaho said this in a statement read on his behalf by the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ebo Barton-Odro, when Parliament rose for the Easter break last Friday.
Mr Adjaho was unable to preside over proceedings on that day because he was the acting President of the country.
The just-ended meeting of Parliament holds historical value because of visits to the House by the Italian and the Turkish Prime Ministers.
It was also during the just-ended meeting that the House began consideration of the much awaited Right to Information Bill.
Mr Adjaho assured the nation of the legislature’s commitment to ensuring that, individual’s rights to privacy were not abused.
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Background
The Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunication Messages Bill, nicknamed the Spy Bill by certain stakeholders, is to enact legislation for the lawful interception of postal packets and telecommunication messages for the purpose of fighting crime and suppressing organised crime.
It is expected to empower the country's security agencies to intercept messages related to or linked to money laundering, terrorism, narcotic trafficking, identity theft and generally for the protection of national security.
It has generated a lot of controversy, as some members of the public have expressed the fear that it will lead to state security agencies eavesdropping on their telephone calls and other forms of communication, thereby depriving them of the privacy guaranteed by the 1992 Constitution.
Speaker's assurances
Mr Adjaho said as Speaker of Parliament, he was aware of the constitutional provisions which guaranteed the protection of the right of Ghanaians to privacy, including the stipulated condition which protected the right to non-interference with communications, except in accordance with law, as might be necessary in a free and democratic society.
"What is needed in considering this bill is for the House to navigate the fine contours of the complex constitutional and legislative maze and establish a delicate balance between the individual's right to privacy, vis-a-vis the right of the public to live in a safe and secure environment devoid of crime," he said.
He said in a bid to ensure that the public interest was served, prior to the introduction of the bill to the House, he, as well as the other members of the leadership of the House, held meetings with officials of the national security establishment on the proposed legislation.
As a further precautionary measure, he said, he asked the national security establishment to hold meetings with the Parliamentary Select Committee on Defence and the Interior to explain the intent of the bill and also discuss related relevant matters.
That meeting, he added, was fruitful.
The Speaker noted that Parliament was constrained by constitutional provisions and the Standing Orders of Parliament to send all bills to the relevant parliamentary select committees and added that he had asked that the entire House should support the committee as it thoroughly examined the bill and made necessary submissions and recommendations.
He thanked all those who helped to make the first meeting of the fourth session of the sixth Parliament very eventful and successful.
“Honourable members, in a few days, we shall be celebrating Easter. As we break for the Easter recess, let us all reflect soberly on the lessons derived from the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. I wish you all a Happy Easter celebration,” he added.