US-based Ghanaian tech lawyer, Antoinette Essilfie, has been awarded the Safeguarding Children’s Data Award at the inaugural PICCASO Awards held in Accra.

The prestigious PICCASO Awards, established by PICCASO Africa, recognise outstanding contributions to data protection, privacy, and cybersecurity across Africa. Antoinette was honoured for her dedicated work in ensuring the safety of children in the digital space.

Ms. Essilfie’s work centres on interpreting global child safety regulations and collaborating with tech companies to develop safer platforms for young people. She has been instrumental in implementing features like restrictions on accessing explicit content, enhanced messaging security, and screen time management tools.

The award also serves as a call to action for parents, educators, and policymakers to prioritize children’s digital rights. Antoinette Essilfie emphasized the growing importance of protecting minors’ online presence, both in Ghana and internationally.

“We must all contribute our part to creating a safer online environment,” she stated after receiving the award, adding that this mission is particularly important given the increasing digital literacy among Ghanaian youth.

Antoinette Essilfie Esq. is a highly qualified legal professional. She obtained her LLB from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in 2014 and was called to the Ghana Bar in 2016. She furthered her education in the United States, gaining admission to the New York and Washington, D.C. bars in 2020, alongside completing her Master’s degree at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Currently pursuing a doctorate at the Swiss School of Business and Management, Ms. Essilfie holds certifications including CIPP/US, CIPM, and Fellowship in Privacy from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP). These qualifications demonstrate her commitment to ethical and inclusive data practices.

Beyond her role as Lead Counsel at a global technology firm, where she shapes ethical innovation policies, Antoinette is the co-founder of Acway Consultancy LLC, providing regulatory compliance support and mentorship for women in privacy. She also serves on the IAPP’s Women Leading Privacy advisory board and is the Executive Director of the Association of Privacy Lawyers in Africa.

Through her work with the Association of Privacy Lawyers in Africa, Antoinette is actively building capacity and advocating for stronger privacy rights within Africa’s rapidly evolving digital landscape. She is a frequent speaker and career coach, passionate about empowering individuals, particularly immigrants, to succeed in their professional journeys.

Antoinette’s ultimate goal is to establish pioneering legal and ethical frameworks that safeguard the digital world for future generations.

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