Ghana’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) has reported some 251 companies to the Attorney-General for owing the commission to the tune of GHS1.5 million since April 2021.
Executive Director of the Commission, Patricia Adusei-Poku disclosed this to journalists, saying that each they notified all companies who owe the commission to settle their arrears within six months, but those 251 have refused to do so.
She said the GHS1.5 million is just the areas they owe from last year, excluding what is piling up for even this year.
According to her, by law, the next step was to report them to the Attorney-General so that government can file a legal suit against each of them and collect the money with interest.
“Even though we have reported them to the Attorney-General they still have the opportunity to come and pay before a lawsuit is activated against them – if they don’t take advantage of the available window then we will soon meet them in court,” she said.
Patricia Adusei-Poku said the commission really do need that money for its operations and to expand and cover more grounds in the public’s interest.
Early this year, the commission declared its intentions to work with the Attorney-General to sue organisations who owe it. It also hinted that efforts are afoot to create a fast-track court to expedite action on cases.
The Executive Director stated that the Chief Justice has expressed interest in assisting the commission to create the fast-track court to deal with cases of organisations in arrears.
Also Read: Data Protection Commission to crack down on defaulting organisations
About DPC
The Data Protection Commission (DPC) is an independent statutory body established under the Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843) to protect privacy of the individual and personal data by regulating the processing of personal information.
It provides for the process to obtain, hold, use or disclose personal information, and for other related issues bordering on the protection of personal data.
The Commission is given several powers under the Act: including the power to acquire property under the State Property and Contracts Act, 1960 (C.A.6) or the State Lands Act, 1962 (Act 125).
