Over Unsolicited Bawumia Campaign Messages
A subscriber of the telecommunications giant, MTN, has raised concerns over receiving unsolicited political messages attributed to the vice president, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, sparking controversy over privacy rights and corporate responsibility.
The aggrieved customer expressed dismay at MTN’s alleged sharing of his contact details with the Dr. Bawumia Campaign Team without his consent, leading to an influx of messages from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer.
A report from the subscriber indicated frustration over the inundation of messages promoting the “Bawumia Nation App” urging participation in Dr. Bawumia’s political journey to the Presidency.
Upon contacting MTN’s Service Centre to address the issue, the customer encountered a response from a representative named Selina, who disavowed MTN’s involvement in the dissemination of these messages.
The subscriber vehemently argued for the protection of his privacy rights by MTN, labeling the messages as “nefarious” and demanding redress from the telecom service provider.
Expressing disbelief at MTN’s purported lack of knowledge regarding the messages, the customer questioned the company’s stance on safeguarding subscribers from unwanted political communications.
Despite Selina’s explanation that MTN was not responsible for the messages, the subscriber emphasized the need for proactive measures to prevent future correspondence from the NPP flagbearer.
The customer’s frustration escalated as he insisted on diverting any messages purportedly from Dr. Bawumia to alternative channels, distancing himself from the political communication.
This incident underscores a broader trend of political campaigns leveraging contact lists obtained during voter registration exercises, as witnessed in a similar outreach tactic during the recent Limited Voter Registration conducted by the Electoral Commission (EC).
Young registrants reported receiving unsolicited messages post-registration, featuring campaign appeals from Dr. Bawumia and NPP candidates, exemplifying the contentious intersection of technology, privacy, and political engagement in Ghana’s evolving electoral landscape.