The Data Protection Commission (DPC) in partnership with the Ghana Association of Privacy Professionals (GAPP), on 26th January, 2026, officially launched the commencement of the celebration of the Data Protection Week 2026, in a press conference at the Information Services Department on the theme “Your Data, Your Identity: Building Trust in Ghana’s Digital Future”.
This celebration and the theme usher in a month-long series of activities designed to raise awareness, strengthen compliance efforts, and stimulate a national dialogue between personal data and individual identity on the vital role of data protection in securing Ghana’s digital transformation.
Speaking at the launch, the Deputy Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Honorable Mohammed Adams Sukparu declared the Data Protection Week officially launched. In his speech, he addressed the impact of the privacy awareness campaign in sustaining public education, compliance, and trust. He further stated that Government remains committed to supporting the Data Protection Commission to carry out its mandates, strengthening compliance across both the private and public sectors, and promoting responsible innovation in the country.
The Executive Director of the Data Protection Commission, Dr. Arnold Kavaarpuo, established that the celebration on the theme, “Your Data, Your Identity: Building Trust in Ghana’s Digital Future” is not just a celebration, but an event to strengthen privacy, trust and responsible data usage in societies. According to him, personal data is more than information, it shapes identity and trust and contributes to economic growth. “When we talk about data protection, we are fundamentally talking about protecting the dignity, autonomy and economic empowerment of every Ghanaian.”
Dr. Kavaarpuo urged individuals to take a keen and active interest in how their data is processed and handled.
President of the Ghana Association of Privacy Professionals, Mr. Emmanuel Gadasu, emphasized the role of professionals as frontline soldiers in this endeavor. He said, “GAPP is committed to building a competent community of practice that can guide organizations towards ethical data stewardship. Building trust is not just about legal compliance; it is about embedding a culture of privacy into the DNA of Ghana’s institutions.”
The commission’s main objective is to protect the privacy of individuals’ personal data by regulating the processing of personal information and providing processes to obtain, hold, and disclose personal information. The Data Protection Commission and Ghana Association of Privacy Professionals call upon the media to be active partners in educating the public, all organizations to urgently review their data processing activities, the judiciary and legal community to deepen understanding of data protection laws to ensure effective adjudication of cases and uphold citizens’ digital rights, and every Ghanaian to take personal data protection seriously.
