The Data Protection Commission (DPC) as part of the drive to ensure that institutions across the country comply with the country data protection law, have embarked on an inspection tour to some offices in the Greater Accra region to verify compliance.
The institutions include Nuffield Clinic, Nyaho Medical Centre, Ghana International school, Airport Women’s Hospital and DCI Microfinance and in attendance were officers from the Police CID, Authorised Enforcement Officers and management and staff of the Commission.
Speaking to a cross section of the media, shortly after the exercise, the Director of Data Compliance, Mr. Quintin Akrobotu said some of the said institutions have complied, but challenges still remain and mentioned, expired data protection certificates, failure to register with the Commission to ensure data protection among others.
He said institutions that refuse to comply with the respective directives of the Commission will face severe sanctions under the Data Protection Act and explained that the gesture will safeguard the personal data of their clients as well as the public.
Mr. Quintin however urged institutions to register with the Commission, saying refusal to register goes against the laws of the country in relation to data protection, adding that some of the institutions have followed due process but there are challenges and advice that they must visit the Commission for the necessary redress and completion.
‘‘Media houses, corporate institutions, hospitals, banks and other organizations that have data of their respective customers, clients must make fervent preparations to register with the Commission to keep their data in order not to conflict with others,” he said adding that people’s data is key and must not engage with others.
He again urged institutions to comply with the data protections law and said the Commission will continue to engage in periodic inspections and called on all institutions to ensure that their data protection details are duly available for inspection and failure to go against the lay down rules and regulations will be subject to prosecution
Some institutions in this regard who failed to provide the requisite information were ordered to report at the Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for a written statement over non-compliance.
