Ghana has launched a year-long National Privacy Awareness Campaign aimed at safeguarding citizens’ data rights and bolstering trust in the country’s growing digital economy.
The initiative, unveiled on Monday by Deputy Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations Mohammed Adams Sukparu at the Data Protection Commission’s (DPC) headquarters in East Legon, will run across all 16 regions in English and major local languages until September 2026.
“Privacy and data protection are not merely legal obligations but are crucial enablers of innovation, competitiveness, and citizen participation in the digital economy,” Sukparu said.
He added that Ghana’s ambition to become the “AI Hub of Africa” depends on public trust, noting, “data serves as the ‘fuel’ for AI, and adoption would falter without confidence in responsible data handling.”
The campaign is designed to address low public awareness of data rights, weak compliance by organizations, and gaps in professional expertise. It also coincided with the inauguration of the Ghana Association of Privacy Professionals (GAPP), a new body to promote knowledge-sharing and high standards among certified practitioners.
Dr. Arnold Kavaarpuo, Executive Director of the DPC, stressed that privacy protection is rooted in Ghana’s constitution. “Privacy is a constitutional right, not a privilege,” he said. “Despite the DPC’s efforts over the past decade in registering thousands of data controllers and processors, significant gaps persist.”
The Deputy Minister also recognized new graduates of the One Million Coders Programme, who will serve as Certified Data Protection Supervisors and Officers. He urged government agencies, the private sector, academia, and civil society to work with the Commission in cultivating “a robust culture of privacy that empowers citizens, fortifies democracy, and firmly establishes Ghana as a pre-eminent leader in digital governance and artificial intelligence.”
Officials said the campaign will make privacy a national priority, leveraging radio, TV, digital platforms, and community outreach to reach citizens everywhere.
