WEBSITE PRIVACY STANDARDS : IS GHANA’S DATA PROTECTION COMMISSION FALLING SHORT?
INTRODUCTION In the digital age, having a web presence is more than just an aesthetic exercise involving colours, fonts, images, and user-friendliness. Websites, particularly those that interact with users and collect personal data, must comply with legal standards concerning data protection. Data controllers (website owners) who collect personal data from website users (data subjects) have a legal and ethical responsibility to ensure compliance with data protection principles. Unfortunately, in Ghana, many websites fail to meet these obligations, leaving users exposed to privacy risks. Surprisingly, even the Data Protection Commission (DPC)—the regulatory body responsible for enforcing compliance—exhibits gaps in meeting its own standards. This article examines the fundamental legal requirements for website data protection, assesses the compliance of Ghana’s Data Protection Commission website, though under construction but collecting and processing data and highlights the ...