In Ghana: British Airways plus other airlines violate data protection law

Despite British Airways commitment to respecting customers privacy and protecting their personal information, it has been cited for breaking Ghana's Data Protection Act

The Data Protection Commission of Ghana has cited over 177 institutions for flouting Data Protection Act (2012).

Out of the total number of institutions defaulting this act, over 25 of them are airlines.

According to the The Data Protection Act, all entities (public and private, local and international), consultants and individuals who collect, hold and use personal data in Ghana are to register with the Data Protection Commission.

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The data protection authority has however advised these flouting institutions to comply with the directive to prevent any legal action.

In a press release available to Pulse.com.gh, the commission expressed disappointment at the institutions “who perform functions as data controllers in violation of the requirement to register in accordance with Section 27 (1) of the Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843).

The commission indicated that in order to protect the interest of the public, it will have no choice “but to commence the prosecution of the offending institutions and the publication of their names to prevent reckless misapplication, use and abuse of personal data”.

The list released is the first in a series of publications that the commission will be undertaking.

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According to the Commission, it will publish more names of offending institutions in the future prior to prosecution.

“We are advising offending institutions to as a matter of urgency to register now to avoid prosecution” said the Data Protection Commission. 

The general public has also been cautioned against providing their personal information to such institutions since it increases the dangers associated with the unlawful processing of their personal data which includes sale of their information (such as credit card details, residential address, phone numbers, etc) to third parties for criminal and fraudulent purposes, lack of access or control over their information and identity theft.

Here is a list of the institutions

The institutions are:

AIRLINES 

1. Arik Air
2. Royal Air Maroc
3. Goldstar Airlines
4. Starbow Airlines
5. Antrak Airlines
6. Air Namibia
7. Lufthansa Airlines
8. Iberia Airlines
9. Tap Portugal Airlines
10. British Airways
11. Afriqiyah Airlines
12. Britannia Airways
13. Ghana International Airlines Limited
14. Citylink Airline
15. Falcon Express
16. Alitalia
17. Air Burkina
18. Aero Contractors
19. Mk Airlines
20. Tropicana
21. Aerogem Aviation
22. Africa West Cargo
23. Cargolux
24. Air Ghana
25. Das Air Cargo
 

Despite British Airways commitment to respecting customers privacy and protecting their personal information, it has been cited for breaking Ghana's Data Protection Act Read Full Story