The Data Protection Commission (DPC), in partnership with the Ghana Association of Privacy Professionals (GAPP), has launched Data Protection Month 2026 in Accra, with a focus on the enforcement of Ghana’s data protection laws.
The event, which took place yesterday, marks the beginning of a month-long series of activities aimed at raising awareness, driving compliance, and fostering a national conversation on the critical role of data protection in Ghana.
It also signals a tougher regulatory posture to strictly apply the provisions of the Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843), including penalties for organisations that process personal data without registration or lawful safeguards.
The activities are also designed to engage all stakeholders, including public and private sector organisations, government agencies, and the media, in an effort to strengthen Ghana’s data protection ecosystem.
The Data Protection Month will be held on the theme: “Your Data, Your Identity: Building Trust in Ghana’s Digital Future”, a theme the organisers said highlighted the urgent need for robust data governance as the foundation for a secure, inclusive and prosperous digital economy.
It brought together regulators, privacy professionals, government officials and the media to reinforce the message that unlawful data processing would now carry real legal and reputational consequences.
The month-long programme would culminate in a National Data Protection Conference and Awards ceremony in February.
Enforcement
The Executive Director of the DPC, Dr Arnold Kavaarpuo, said that his outfit would prioritise enforcement throughout the year. He added that the law already provided clear obligations and sanctions; therefore, the commission would take authorised action against those who breached the country’s data protection laws.
“It is important to take notice that 2026 will be a year of enforcement. Compliance with the Data Protection Act, 2012, is non-negotiable for any organisation that handles the data of Ghanaian citizens,” he said.
Dr Kavaarpuo also said that the commission continued to receive complaints involving unauthorised digital loans, improper disclosure of health records and unlawful reuse of personal information. He said this situation made enforcement very urgent to address the growing misuse of personal data across multiple sectors.
The executive director said the commission had strengthened its enforcement capacity over the past year through audits, sector engagements and the deployment of a digital registration and compliance platform. He added that the introduction of a data protection privacy seal would allow citizens to identify organisations that met legal requirements, while electronic certificates would make compliance status easily verifiable.
Support
The Deputy Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Mohammed Adams Sukparu, who launched the Data Protection Month 2026, also pledged continued government support for the commission’s enforcement agenda.
He said Ghana’s investments in digital identity systems, mobile money and e-government services depended on public confidence in how personal data was handled.
“This investment can only deliver full value when citizens trust that their personal data is handled lawfully, securely and responsibly,” the deputy minister said.
Mr Sukparu also explained that sustained education and enforcement would remain central to building trust in Ghana’s digital transformation.
The President of the Ghana Association of Privacy Professionals (GAPP), Emmanuel K. Gadasu, urged organisations to treat data protection officers as strategic assets rather than administrative burdens.
He described privacy professionals as guardians of public trust and said organisations that invested in compliance would gain long-term advantages.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh