The Data Protection Commission (DPC) has announced that 2026 will be a decisive year for the enforcement of Ghana’s data protection laws, warning that institutions that flout the rules will face sanctions.

Speaking at the launch of Data Protection Week 2026 in Accra, the Executive Director of the Commission, Dr Arnold Kavaarpuo, said the DPC will intensify compliance checks and regulatory actions to ensure that data controllers and processors operate within the law.

“2026 will be a year of enforcement. The Data Protection Act emphasises compliance requirements for lawful data processing, and it also provides consequences for non-compliance,” Dr Kavaarpuo said. He noted that the law prescribes penalties, including fines and imprisonment for offenders who fail to meet their obligations under the Act.

According to him, the Commission’s approach is not driven by punishment but by the need to build public trust in how personal data is handled in Ghana’s fast-growing digital space.

“Our objective is not to punish for the sake of it, but to ensure that everybody can live confidently, knowing that their data is collected and processed with the right systems in place,” he added.

Data Protection Week, which is observed annually, is organised by the DPC to promote awareness and compliance with the Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843). The initiative brings together public and private institutions to discuss responsible data collection, processing and storage, especially as digital technologies become more central to economic and social life.

At the event, Deputy Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Mohammed Adams Sukparu, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the Commission in enforcing the law.

He said the Ministry would work closely with the DPC to strengthen compliance across both public and private sectors.

Mr Sukparu, who is also a Member of Parliament, stressed that protecting personal data is critical to Ghana’s digital transformation agenda and maintaining public confidence in digital services.