Data Controllers and business organizations that are not in compliance may face significant consequences, as the Ghana Data Protection Commission has initiated a rigorous enforcement of the Data Protection Act 2012 (Act 843) starting August 2023.
The move follows a noticeable lack of compliance among business organizations, compelling the commission to ensure customer information security.
The Act outlines lawful and exempt processing, duties of data controllers, processors, the Data Commissioner, and data subjects.
It balances privacy rights with the state’s needs to function effectively and protect its citizens.
CEO of Information Governance Solutions, Sylvia Appiah, urged businesses to prioritize data protection requirements to avoid losses. She emphasized skill acquisition for managing and safeguarding customer information.
Appiah called on organizations to engage her company for certified practitioner training and data protection registration, endorsed by the Ghana Data Commission. She highlighted the global shortage of data protection agents and underscored the importance of data protection for organizational success.
She emphasized, “Data Protection is a law that is meant to protect every individual and therefore cannot be over-stressed that any business or country cannot exist without data protection.”