Government has signalled a tougher stance on data protection compliance as Ghana deepens its digital transformation, warning that weak handling of personal data could undermine public confidence in digital services and innovation.
At the launch of the 2026 Data Protection Week in Accra, the Deputy Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Mr Mohammed Adams Sukparu, called on public and private institutions to strengthen cooperation with the Data Protection Commission (DPC) to ensure full compliance with Ghana’s Data Protection Act.
Mr Sukparu said growing investments in digital identity systems, mobile money, e-government platforms and emerging technologies would only be sustainable if citizens were assured that their personal data was being handled lawfully, transparently and securely.
He cautioned that lapses in data protection practices, particularly in sensitive sectors such as finance, health, education and telecommunications, could erode trust and stall progress in digital innovation.
The 2026 Data Protection Week, which began on Monday under the theme “Your Data, Your Identity: Building Trust in Ghana’s Digital Future,” reflects government’s focus on embedding data protection at the centre of the digitalisation agenda.
Executive Director of the DPC, Dr Arnold Kavaarpuo, said the scope of the celebration had been expanded to reflect the growing role of personal data in everyday life, noting that data protection now affects routine activities including mobile money transactions, healthcare delivery, digital identification and access to online public services.
He stressed that safeguarding personal data was not only a legal requirement but also essential to protecting individual dignity, autonomy and public confidence in digital systems.
“Trust in Ghana’s digital future can only be sustained when both citizens and institutions act deliberately to protect personal data,” Dr Kavaarpuo said, adding that data protection should be viewed as a matter of respect for individuals rather than mere regulatory compliance.
Dr Kavaarpuo disclosed that in 2025, the Commission conducted its largest public awareness campaign since its establishment, reaching an estimated 25 million people nationwide. He said the DPC also expanded data controller registrations, carried out compliance audits across multiple sectors, and trained more than 800 data protection professionals to support organisations in meeting their obligations.
He announced that the Commission would intensify enforcement of the Data Protection Act in 2026, warning that the law provides for sanctions, including fines and imprisonment, for persistent non-compliance.
President of the Ghana Association of Privacy Professionals, Mr Emmanuel Gadasu, reinforced the link between effective data protection and citizen trust, describing personal data as an extension of individual identity. He urged organisations to see compliance as a strategic asset that enhances credibility and competitiveness.
Activities for the month-long Data Protection Week include nationwide public education campaigns and stakeholder engagement programmes aimed at turning awareness into sustained compliance. The celebrations will culminate in a National Data Protection Conference scheduled for February.
