Accra, March 2, – Government is drafting a new Data Protection Bill aimed at regulating Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems, automated decision-making processes and cross-border data transfers to strengthen Ghana’s digital governance architecture and protect citizens’ rights.
Samuel Nartey George, Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, announced the move at the 2026 Data Protection Conference in Accra, themed: “Your Data, Your Identity – Building Trust in Ghana’s Digital Future.”
He explained that the proposed legislation would modernise Ghana’s data protection regime to reflect evolving technological realities, including complex global data ecosystems and the expanding use of AI across sectors.
According to the Minister, the Bill seeks to tighten enforcement mechanisms, clarify international data transfer provisions and strengthen individual rights to ensure that Ghana’s regulatory framework remains resilient and future-ready.
Mr George noted that Ghana’s rapid digital transformation—spanning mobile money expansion, interoperable payment systems, digital public infrastructure and open banking—required robust governance safeguards to prevent systemic vulnerabilities.
He described trust as a critical form of economic infrastructure, stressing that without it, participation declines, investment slows and innovation weakens. Safeguarding personal data, he said, is fundamental to sustaining confidence in a digital economy where information increasingly determines access to credit, insurance, healthcare and public services.
The Minister also disclosed that government was pursuing a Data Harmonisation initiative to reduce regulatory fragmentation and align standards across financial services, telecommunications and the public sector.
Additionally, he revealed that an Emerging Technologies Bill was in development to provide structured oversight for AI systems, advanced analytics, digital assets and new technology platforms. He emphasised that the objective was to guide innovation responsibly rather than suppress it.
Mr George further announced that Ghana’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy was being crafted to build local expertise while embedding fairness, transparency and accountability in system design and deployment. He highlighted the One Million Coders Programme as part of efforts to equip young Ghanaians with digital engineering and AI skills, noting that digital sovereignty depends on enforceable domestic capacity rather than isolation.
Andrew Asiamah Amoako, Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, representing the Speaker, said digital sovereignty had become a defining dimension of national sovereignty in the 21st century.
He observed that sovereignty now extends beyond territorial boundaries to include control over data, digital systems and identity. A nation that lacks authority over how its data is collected, stored, analysed and shared risks diminished autonomy, he cautioned.
Mr Amoako called for enforceable legal frameworks, resilient technical systems and leadership that appreciates the long-term consequences of technological adoption, urging Ghana to shape its digital transformation deliberately.
In his welcome address, Arnold Kavaarpuo, Executive Director of the Data Protection Commission, highlighted the real-life impact of weak data governance.
He cited the case of a young teacher whose personal contacts were accessed and shared publicly after she defaulted on a mobile loan, leading to reputational harm. The episode, he said, illustrated how personal data disclosed during vulnerable moments could be misused.
Dr Kavaarpuo emphasised that data protection transcends technical compliance and involves power, accountability and human consequences. He added that a trusted digital economy requires deliberate policymaking, strong institutions and coordinated action among legislators, regulators, financial institutions, technology firms and civil society.
The conference brought together members of Parliament, representatives of the Bank of Ghana, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, the National Identification Authority, regulatory agencies, diplomats, academics and industry stakeholders.
Participants were urged to translate dialogue into concrete safeguards to ensure that Ghana’s digital future remains innovative, secure and anchored in public trust.
GHBUSS
2 March 2026
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