Lawyer Anne Britwum has highlighted the importance of protecting personal information under Section 17 of Ghana’s Data Protection Act, urging individuals and organisations to respect the privacy rights of others when collecting or using personal data.
Speaking on the MYD Morning Show hosted by Reggie Reg on 24th July 2026, she explained that the law places clear responsibilities on anyone handling personal information such as names, photographs, phone numbers and residential addresses.
According to Lawyer Britwum, organisations must have a lawful basis for collecting personal information and must clearly inform individuals why their data is being gathered. She noted that the information can only be used for the purpose that was communicated to the individual at the time of collection.
She further explained that accountability is one of the key principles of the Act, stressing that organisations and individuals who misuse personal information can be held responsible for their actions.
“The law requires accountability for how personal information is handled. If something goes wrong, those responsible can be held accountable,” she stated.
Lawyer Britwum also addressed the use of photographs, explaining that there is a legal distinction between publishing images as part of a recap of an event and using those same images to promote an event or organisation.
According to her, while event coverage may fall within certain acceptable limits, using someone’s image for promotional purposes may require additional legal considerations because the Data Protection Act places limitations on how personal images can be used.
She encouraged organisations, media practitioners and content creators to familiarise themselves with the provisions of the Data Protection Act to ensure that personal information is collected, processed and used lawfully while respecting the privacy rights of individuals.
By: Sakina Mustapha