RICHNESS the WRITER

By Richard Agodzo In Ghana, the lead-up to elections often reveals a peculiar breach of privacy. Suddenly, political parties seem to have an uncanny ability to reach out directly to us via our registered telephone numbers, bombarding us with campaign messages and requests for votes. For many, this raises an important question: how did these parties obtain our private contact information? The situation highlights a disturbing reality – a breach of trust by the very telecommunication networks we rely on. As subscribers, we enter into an implicit contract with our service providers to safeguard our data. While there may not always be a formal agreement stipulating this protection, the principles of privacy are clear. The unauthorized sharing of our personal data with political entities constitutes a breach of privacy and, potentially, the Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843) of Ghana. The Role of Telecommunication Networks Telecommunication companies act as custodians of our personal infor...

By Richard Agodzo In recent years, the hope and ambition of Ghana’s youth have been overshadowed by uncertainty. Many young Ghanaians find themselves dreaming of greener pastures beyond our borders, a movement popularly known as “Jakpa.” The lure of opportunities abroad is real and understandable—better job prospects, higher wages, and a chance for personal growth. But in our quest for brighter horizons, there are crucial questions to consider: What does the future hold here in Ghana? How much power do we, the youth, have to shape it? The 2024 election year is upon us, and as is all too common, politicians are once again vying for our attention. They will come bearing promises of prosperity, job creation, and social programs that sound too good to be true. They’ll campaign, perhaps with some sincerity, but too often with empty words, offering us “castles in the air.” And as young people in Ghana, we must be vigilant and aware of the game at play. This is not the time to be pawns in pol...