The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, has underscored the growing importance of data governance in safeguarding Ghana’s sovereignty, stating that national independence in the digital age depends on firm control over data and digital systems.
Delivering a speech read on his behalf at a Data Protection Week conference in Accra, the Speaker noted that the concept of sovereignty had evolved beyond territorial integrity and political autonomy to include control over identity, data and digital infrastructure.
“In this century, we must recognise that digital dignity and digital self-determination are equally important to the strength of our Republic.
To protect our data is to protect our identity; to protect our identity is to protect our sovereignty,” he said.
“In this digital century, safeguarding sovereignty in all its forms may well be the highest expression of patriotism.”
The event was organised by the Data Protection Commission (DPC) on the theme: “Your data, Your identity: Building trust in Ghana’s digital future.”
It brought together policymakers, regulators, industry players, technology experts, academics and civil society stakeholders to deliberate on strengthening data governance and protecting digital rights.
Sovereignty in the Digital Age
Mr Bagbin observed that in the modern era, national memory increasingly resides in databases, biometric systems, financial platforms and communication networks rather than traditional cultural symbols.
“If a nation cannot determine how its data is collected, stored, analysed and shared, then its sovereignty becomes limited in ways that may not always be visible, but are deeply consequential,” he cautioned.
He called for deliberate digital governance anchored in Ghanaian values, stronger data protection institutions, and accountable artificial intelligence systems that respect national laws and dignity.
Government Reforms and AI Strategy
The Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, described data as a critical national resource underpinning identity, economic participation and digital growth.
He announced planned reforms to strengthen data protection legislation, clarify cross-border data regulations, and enhance enforcement mechanisms in response to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
The Minister further revealed that Cabinet had approved a National AI Strategy, alongside plans for a biometric-verified SIM registration exercise linked to the Ghana Card to enhance security and accountability in the digital ecosystem.
Building Trust Through Regulation
The Executive Director of the Data Protection Commission, Dr Arnold Kavaarpuo, said the conference would focus on the human consequences of weak data governance.
He cited a case involving abuse by a mobile loan application to illustrate how personal data could be weaponised.
According to him, trust in Ghana’s digital economy requires deliberate regulation, proactive risk management and leadership that treats data stewardship as a fiduciary responsibility rather than mere statutory compliance.
The President of the Ghana Association of Privacy Professionals (GAPP), Emmanuel Gadasu, distinguished between compliance with the Data Protection Act and the broader moral obligation owed to data subjects.
He called for greater empathy, clear and accessible privacy disclosures, empowered data protection officers and restraint in collecting sensitive personal data.
Chair of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Information and Communications, Abed-Nego Lamangin Bandin, also assured stakeholders that Parliament would rigorously scrutinise proposed amendments to ensure Ghana’s legal framework keeps pace with rapidly evolving digital ecosystems.
By Sampson Kumah Ifeetwube Elvis
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