Map the information before you collect it
List the fields you intend to collect, why each is needed, who can access it and how it will be used. Remove fields that do not support the research question. A smaller, well-defined dataset is easier to protect and easier to explain to participants.
Know the applicable requirements
Ghana’s Data Protection Commission identifies registration, privacy principles, security safeguards, internal policies and staff awareness as core compliance matters under Act 843. An organisation should confirm its obligations directly with the Commission or qualified advisers.
Separate consent from ethics approval
A participant information sheet explains the study, voluntary participation and relevant contact arrangements. Ethics review considers the study as a whole. Health and institutional research may need approval from the relevant committee before recruitment. The GHS submission portal is one official route; its applicability depends on your study.
Make governance operational
Agree a documented access list, a retention schedule, a withdrawal process and a plan for incidents. Test translated consent materials with the intended audience. These are practical design recommendations; the correct legal basis and safeguards require project-specific review.
Sources & scope
Official background sources accessed for this guide. Recommendations are Ara’s editorial synthesis, not statements issued by these institutions.
Data Protection Commission — Data protection complianceGhana Health Service — Research ethics submissionsPublished 7 October 2026. Guidance is general; confirm current and project-specific requirements before acting.