The Data Protection Commission (DPC) has launched a regulatory review following the public exposure of sensitive personal details belonging to 1,964 Ghanaian citizens evacuated from South Africa.
The leaked records reportedly contained full names, signatures, and personal documentation of financial assistance granted to the evacuees.
Reacting to the development, the Commission expressed deep concern over the publication of identifiable details of individuals who recently faced security threats, warning that such exposure leaves them vulnerable to identity theft, fraud, and public harassment.
It stressed that while public accountability, parliamentary oversight, and press freedom remain fundamental, they do not grant automatic authority for the unrestricted disclosure of confidential citizen data.
“The legitimate pursuit of public accountability does not automatically justify the unrestricted disclosure of identifiable personal information,” the DPC cautioned in a statement.
The regulatory body singled out the Minority Caucus in Parliament, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Joy News, and other media outlets, directing them to exercise immediate due diligence and pull down or redact publicly accessible personal identifiers.
Although the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Parliament are registered data controllers in good standing, the Commission reminded both institutions that registration does not exempt them from complying with data protection regulations.
Citing Article 15(1) and Article 18(2) of the 1992 Constitution alongside Sections 18, 19, and 20 of the Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843), the DPC reaffirmed that individual privacy and personal dignity remain inviolable.
The Commission pledged to engage all involved entities and warned that strict sanctions under Act 843 will be applied if non-compliance is established upon completion of its review.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
