The Africa Center for International Law and Accountability (ACILA) says the withdrawal of what has become known as the 'Spy Bill’, is a welcomed development.

It is, however, calling for proper scrutiny of the draft legislation to ensure fundamental human rights are protected.

Deputy Minister of Interior, James Agalga, withdrew the Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunication Bill and replaced it with a revised version.           

Various stakeholders, including ACILA, had called for comprehensive changes to the bill to ensure it provides safeguards for the rights of Ghanaians. 

While welcoming government decision to withdraw the draft law from Parliament, ACILA wants all interest groups to scrutinize the revised bill in order to protect the privacy of communication of Ghanaians.

Deputy Executive Director, Carl Mensah, tells Nhyira FM from his US-base that there should be a proper balance between state interest and obligation to citizens.

According to him, though ACILA will not kick against the abolishment of the Spy Bill project, he says fighting crime while respecting and protecting fundamental human rights of Ghanaians must go together.

“ACILA will not necessarily agree with the fact that the whole Spy Bill project should be abandoned so far as there is revision that adequately addresses concerns that ACILA has pointed out earlier in its memo to parliament," Mr Mensah said.

"We believe that Ghanaians in general and stakeholders in particular will be okay with the bill if its passed with the revised bill," he added.

But ACILA wants all stakeholders to properly scrutinize the draft legislation to ensure fundamental human rights are protected at all times, punching holes in the withdrawn bill.

“Our concern is that, the bill as it stands right now has a lot of provisions that could lead to privacy rights of Ghanaians being trampled upon, and it also concentrates too much power in the hands of few people with very little oversight," he stressed.

According to him, the bill is also overbroad and it’s vague; and this will allow for officials to probably behave in the way that would be in contravention of the constitution of Ghana and would usurp some of these constitutional guarantees given to Ghanaians.

Mr Mensah is also calling for cautious optimism about the outcome following a revision of the controversial bill.

“ACILA is cautiously optimistic over the government’s decision to revise the bill because we hope that whatever decision will come out will adequately address the concerns that we have pointed out.” Mr Mensah said.