The National Communications Authority (NCA) has disclosed that all telcos operating in the country complied with government’s request for information for contact tracing purposes.
Explaining claims of privacy breach of customers data, the Authority clarified that in March 2020, “we requested passive mobile positioning data logs from Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) for undertaking a historical and current analysis of persons potentially infected with Covid-19 for contact tracing purposes in accordance with the Establishment of Emergency Communications Systems Instrument, 2020 (E.I. 63).
“The Instrument required network operators or service providers to cooperate with the NCA Common Platform to provide information to State agencies in the case of an emergency including a public health emergency.”
According to the NCA, “All MNOs i.e. AirtelTigo, Glo, MTN and Vodafone, complied with the request for information which was subsequently processed and forwarded to the Ghana Health Service for contact tracing purposes.”
It added that there was no objection by any Party in respect of Covid-19 contact tracing data request until an application for injunction order was filed.
The Authority assured consumers and the general public that there has been no breach of personal data and privacy in the compliance of MNOs to the requirements of law.
