Data Protection Commission refers four food companies to CID

The Data Protection Commission (DPC) has referred four major food processing companies operating within the Free Zones Enclave in Tema to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service. The companies—Wilmar Africa Limited, De Heus, Barry Callebaut, and TF Commodities—are alleged to have violated the Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843). The referral follows an enforcement exercise where these entities were found to be operating without valid data protection certifications or failed to produce them during compliance checks.

According to the DPC Director, Mr. Quintin Akrobotu, the enforcement action is part of a broader effort to ensure that all organisations handling personal data adhere to national privacy standards. Under the current legal framework, entities are required to register with the commission and renew their data protection certificates every two years. The failure of these four companies to maintain valid documentation triggered the immediate referral for police investigation and potential prosecution.

While several firms faced sanctions, the DPC highlighted some successes within the enclave. Cargill Ghana Limited and Imperial Health Sciences were publicly commended for their full compliance with data protection regulations. Mr. Akrobotu noted that these companies demonstrated best practices in their data handling processes, serving as a benchmark for others in the industry. He reiterated that the commission’s enforcement activities will persist across various sectors until total compliance is achieved across the country.

In a related development, the DPC Director condemned reported attacks on journalists who were covering the inspection exercise in Tema. Mr. Akrobotu emphasized the importance of media transparency in regulatory enforcement and stated that such hostility towards the press is unacceptable. The commission remains resolute in its mandate to protect the personal data of citizens and will continue to hold non-compliant institutions accountable through both administrative and legal channels.