By Ruth Serwaa Asare
Etiquette expert Gladys Desbordes-Hill has cautioned Ghanaians against the growing habit of putting people on loudspeaker during phone conversations without informing them a practice she describes as “disrespectful and dangerous.”
Speaking on GTV’s Breakfast Show, Mrs. Desbordes-Hill said the act not only violates privacy but has, in some cases, caused serious misunderstandings and even broken relationships.
“Hardly do we realize that one of the things we’re doing wrong and so wrong that I don’t even know where it started is putting people on speaker without telling them. I remember a case where two sisters were chatting, and one of them received a call from her husband. The other sister, not knowing he could hear, said, ‘Oh, your foolish husband has called again.’ That comment led to a divorce. All because the call was on speaker”; she emphasized.
According to her, basic phone etiquette demands that anyone who intends to use loudspeaker should first inform the person on the other end. “If you have to put someone on speaker, tell them. Say, ‘Ama has come, and she wants to talk to you, so I’m putting you on speaker,’” she advised.
Mrs. Desbordes-Hill, who was discussing social and travel etiquette, further noted that good manners extend beyond how we dress or behave in public they also reflect in how we use our phones. She discouraged people from having loud phone conversations in public spaces such as airports, buses, and waiting areas, saying, “Nobody is interested in your broken heart story. Keep private conversations private.”
She also urged the public to be mindful of other forms of privacy violations, including recording calls without consent and taking people’s photos secretly. Such actions, she said, amount to invasion of privacy and can have legal consequences.
Gladys Desbordes-Hill concluded that proper phone manners from introducing oneself when making calls to respecting others’ privacy are essential to maintaining respect and healthy relationships in both personal and professional spaces.
