The flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress, (NDC), John Mahama has condemned the raid by National Security operatives on the offices of a local IT Firm, SOFTtribe Limited.
He also described the action as reckless and unacceptable.
In a statement, former President Mahama accused the government of using the National Security apparatus to intimidate Ghanaians.
“Regardless of what disagreements may exist between SOFTtribe and the Ghana Water Company Limited, the forceful entry into their offices by armed National Security operatives is unacceptable.”
“Recent events appear to confirm our worst fears that the Nana Addo administration is determined to use the National Security machinery to not only intimidate Ghanaians, but to whittle away our hard won rights guaranteed under the constitution of our Republic,” he stated.
According to sources at National Security, SOFTtribe was the subject of the raid because it was reportedly refusing to release a database critical to billing customers after GWCL served notice that it will not renew its contractual relations with the IT firm.
The raid followed a complaint by the Ghana Water Company.
National Security said a court order was obtained and officials, including IT experts, were dispatched to SOFTtribe to secure the database.
The contract between SOFTtribe and the Ghana Water Company was reportedly terminated in September 2019 after GWCL issued a letter of termination to the IT Firm.
Read below full statement culled from JDM’s Facebook Timeline:
I associate with the justifiable outrage expressed by many Ghanaians this morning upon receiving news of a rambo-style raid on the offices of SOFTtribe.
We all join in condemning the reckless invasion of their premises, and the seizure of electronic equipment including mobile phones of staff.
Regardless of what disagreements may exist between SOFTtribe and the Ghana Water Company Limited, the forceful entry into their offices by armed National Security operatives is unacceptable.
Over the years, SOFTtribe has proven to be a leader of local content innovation in IT. They are one of the indigenous companies that have introduced various digital solutions and impacted positively on payroll management and crime prevention among others. And, their footprints stretch beyond Ghana.
Recent events appear to confirm our worst fears that the Nana Addo administration is determined to use the national security machinery to not only intimidate Ghanaians, but to whittle away our hard won rights guaranteed under the constitution of our Republic.
