The novel Covid-19 has been plaguing countries across the world since its outbreak in late 2019 earning the title of pandemic accorded by the WHO. More than nine million (9,574, 704) cases have been confirmed with 486, 123 deaths recorded as at the time this post was published.
Ghana has received her fair share of the pain inflicted by the pandemic with a total of 15,47 confirmed cases and more than ninety (95) deaths. The government of Ghana has been doing a lot to curb the spread and treatment of infected persons. One main measure to reduce the spread of Covid-19 is the policy implemented of the contact tracing policy which help to look for, find and isolate and treat persons.
In order to see that the policy works, an Accra High Court ruled today that the two major network telecommunication network companies in Ghana, Vodafone and MTN should share the data of their subscribers (customers) with the body known as Covid-19 Contact Tracers. This is believed to help the workers quickly find people they believe has been in contact with an infected person. This will help make their work more effective and contribute to controlling the spread of the novel virus.
Justice Stephen Oppong who presided over the case said in his decision and quoted by Joynews saying "it would go against citizens’ “overall wellbeing” for the court to stop telecommunications providers from sharing data with authorities amid a pandemic.
"A private citizen had filed an injunction order asking the country’s two biggest operators to suspend data-sharing with the government, saying it breached domestic and international privacy laws." Reported Joynews. There is yet to be a hearing and ruling on the case.
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