Yayra Koku, said to be a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has expressed concerns over the security implications of the Tap and Go Transport Service recently launched by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
In a post on X, Yayra Koku raised alarm over the hosting of the Tap-and-Go bus monitoring system in China, stating that it could jeopardize the privacy of commuters using the system.
The Tap and Go Transport Service enables passengers to pay for their fares using a reloadable card, which they can tap on a device installed on buses or rails.
While Vice President Bawumia highlighted that the service includes a CCTV monitoring system developed in Ghana, Yayra Koku revealed that the software for CCTV monitoring was actually purchased from China and is hosted on Chinese servers. This, according to Yayra, poses a significant security threat to passengers and the nation as a whole.
Yayra Koku criticized the launch of the system without addressing the security implications, calling on the vice president and national security agencies to take immediate action to safeguard the privacy and security of passengers.
“This is a plug-and-play software that can be purchased and used for CCTV monitoring. However, Bawumia launched it yesterday, claiming that it was developed in Ghana.
“So, a whole country, Ghana, with its national security apparatus and intelligence, sat down to allow Bawumia to commission such a system without first addressing the underlying security concerns about the vehicle monitoring system?” he asked.
Yayra Koku expressed concern that the software used in the Tap and Go Transport Service could potentially allow the Chinese government or hackers to access passengers’ facial images and personal data. This could lead to unauthorized surveillance of the buses’ activities and movements.
“This software is hosted in China and is available for purchase by anyone who can afford the hardware (CCTV) it powers. My concern is whether we are now entrusting our safety to the Chinese.
“Consider China’s mass surveillance and human rights violations. Anyone who boards the new bus is automatically monitored by CCTV, and their facial images are sent directly to Chinese servers. We do not know what the retention policy is with these companies. Data privacy concerns? Just to name a few,” the post said.
Dr. Bawumia highlighted that the new Tap and Go digital system is not confined to intra-city transport like Aayalolo. Instead, it is expansive and designed to support various public transport services. This includes parcel deliveries and tracking, taxi hailing, inter-city bus services, as well as inner-city bus services such as Metro Mass and Aayalolo.