Privacy Policy
1. Introduction
Welcome to BantuHive Ltd ("the Company," "we," "us," or "our"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our donations and investment crowdfunding platform, including our website at www.bantuhive.com and our mobile applications (collectively, the "Platform").
By accessing or using our Platform, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, please do not access the Platform.
1.1 Our Commitment
BantuHive Ltd is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal information is handled in a safe and responsible manner. We comply with the Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843) of Ghana and implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data.
1.2 Scope
This Privacy Policy applies to all users of our Platform, including:
- Donors who contribute to fundraising campaigns
- Investors who participate in investment crowdfunding
- Fundraisers who create and manage campaigns
- Beneficiaries who receive funds from campaigns
- Visitors who browse our website without registering
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Personal Information You Provide
When you register for an account, create a campaign, or make a donation or investment, we collect information you directly provide, including:
- Identity Information: Full name, date of birth, gender, nationality
- Contact Information: Email address, phone number, physical address
- Identification Documents: Ghana Card number, passport, driver's license (for KYC verification)
- Financial Information: Bank account details, mobile money numbers, payment card information
- Profile Information: Profile photo, biography, social media links
- Campaign Information: Campaign descriptions, images, videos, beneficiary details
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
When you access our Platform, we automatically collect certain information:
- Device Information: Device type, operating system, browser type, unique device identifiers
- Log Information: IP address, access times, pages viewed, referring URL
- Location Information: General location based on IP address, precise location if you grant permission
- Usage Information: Features used, actions taken, transaction history
2.3 Information from Third Parties
We may receive information about you from third parties:
- Identity verification services for KYC compliance
- Payment processors and financial institutions
- Credit reference bureaus (for investment crowdfunding)
- Social media platforms if you choose to link accounts
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
3.1 Providing Our Services
- Create and manage your account
- Process donations and investments
- Facilitate fund transfers to beneficiaries
- Enable communication between users
- Provide customer support
3.2 Compliance and Security
- Verify your identity (KYC requirements)
- Detect and prevent fraud, money laundering, and other illegal activities
- Comply with legal and regulatory requirements
- Protect the rights and safety of our users and third parties
3.3 Improvements and Analytics
- Analyze usage patterns to improve our services
- Develop new features and functionality
- Conduct research and analysis
- Personalize your experience
3.4 Communications
- Send transaction confirmations and receipts
- Provide updates on campaigns you've supported or created
- Send marketing communications (with your consent)
- Notify you of policy changes and platform updates
4. Information Sharing and Disclosure
We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following circumstances:
4.1 With Your Consent
We share information when you have given us explicit consent, such as when you choose to make your donation public or share campaign updates.
4.2 Service Providers
We share information with third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf:
- Payment processors and mobile money providers
- Cloud hosting and data storage providers
- Identity verification services
- Email and SMS communication services
- Analytics and monitoring services
4.3 Legal Requirements
We may disclose information when required by law or in response to valid legal process:
- Court orders and subpoenas
- Requests from law enforcement or regulatory authorities
- To comply with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulations
- To protect our legal rights or defend against legal claims
4.4 Campaign Transparency
Certain information may be visible to other users for platform transparency:
- Fundraiser profiles and campaign information are public
- Donor names may be displayed unless you choose to donate anonymously
- Investment amounts may be visible to campaign organizers
4.5 Business Transfers
In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change and the choices you may have.
6. Data Security
We implement robust security measures to protect your personal information:
6.1 Technical Safeguards
- 256-bit SSL/TLS encryption for all data transmissions
- AES-256 encryption for stored sensitive data
- Secure, PCI-DSS compliant payment processing
- Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments
- Firewalls and intrusion detection systems
- Secure cloud infrastructure with redundancy
6.2 Organizational Safeguards
- Strict access controls based on job responsibilities
- Employee background checks and confidentiality agreements
- Regular security awareness training
- Incident response and breach notification procedures
6.3 Your Role in Security
While we take extensive measures to protect your data, you also play a role in keeping your account secure:
- Use a strong, unique password for your account
- Enable two-factor authentication when available
- Do not share your login credentials with others
- Log out of shared or public devices
- Report any suspicious activity immediately
7. Your Privacy Rights
Under the Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843) and our commitment to your privacy, you have the following rights:
7.1 Right to Access
You can request a copy of the personal information we hold about you. We will provide this information within 30 days of receiving your request.
7.2 Right to Correction
You can update or correct your personal information at any time through your account settings or by contacting us.
7.3 Right to Deletion
You can request deletion of your personal data, subject to legal retention requirements. Some data may need to be retained for regulatory compliance.
7.4 Right to Restrict Processing
You can request that we limit how we use your personal information in certain circumstances.
7.5 Right to Data Portability
You can request your data in a commonly used, machine-readable format to transfer to another service.
7.6 Right to Object
You can object to processing of your personal data for marketing purposes at any time. You can unsubscribe from marketing communications using the link in our emails or through your account settings.
7.7 Exercising Your Rights
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@bantuhive.com or through your account settings. We will verify your identity before processing your request.
8. Fundraiser Accountability & Fund Misuse Penalties
BantuHive Ltd maintains strict policies to ensure all funds raised on our platform are used for their intended purposes. Misuse of funds—whether from donations or investments— constitutes a serious violation subject to civil and criminal penalties under Ghanaian law.
8.1 Applicable Ghana Laws
Fund misuse may result in prosecution under the following laws:
- Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29): Fraud and defrauding by false pretenses carry penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment.
- Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044): Fund misappropriation constituting money laundering is punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment and/or substantial fines.
- Securities Industry Act, 2016 (Act 929): Investment fraud is subject to SEC enforcement, including fines and imprisonment up to 10 years.
- Electronic Transactions Act, 2008 (Act 772): Online fraud carries penalties of up to 15 years imprisonment.
8.2 Fundraiser Obligations
By creating a campaign on BantuHive Ltd, fundraisers agree to:
- Use all funds exclusively for the stated campaign purpose
- Maintain accurate records of all expenditures
- Provide progress updates and proof of fund usage when requested
- Return unused funds or obtain donor/investor consent for alternative use
- Comply with all applicable tax and regulatory requirements
- Cooperate fully with any audits or investigations
8.3 Consequences of Fund Misuse
8.3.1 Platform Actions
- Immediate suspension of account and freezing of pending disbursements
- Permanent ban from all BantuHive Ltd services
- Recovery of misused funds through legal action
- Reporting to relevant authorities for criminal investigation
- Public disclosure of verified fraud cases
8.3.2 Criminal Penalties
- Imprisonment ranging from 2 to 15 years depending on the offense and amount
- Fines as determined by the courts
- Restitution orders requiring full repayment to victims
- Asset forfeiture and seizure of proceeds of crime
- Credit bureau reporting affecting future financial access
8.3.3 Civil Liability
- Full restitution of misused funds to donors/investors
- Compensatory damages for harm caused
- Punitive damages as determined by courts
- Legal costs and interest on misappropriated amounts
8.4 Monitoring and Enforcement
We actively monitor campaigns and fund usage through:
- Enhanced due diligence and identity verification for all fundraisers
- Milestone-based fund releases requiring proof of progress
- Random and risk-based audits of fund expenditure
- Whistleblower reporting mechanisms for suspected fraud
- Automated detection of suspicious withdrawal patterns
8.5 Cooperation with Authorities
BantuHive Ltd cooperates fully with law enforcement and regulatory bodies including:
- Ghana Police Service (EOCO - Economic and Organized Crime Office)
- Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC)
- Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
- Bank of Ghana
- Attorney General's Department
8.6 Reporting Suspected Misuse
If you suspect fund misuse, please report it immediately:
- Email: compliance@bantuhive.com
- Hotline: +233 55 156 3081 (available 24/7)
- Online: Through the "Report Campaign" feature on any campaign page
All reports are treated confidentially, and whistleblowers are protected from retaliation under the Whistleblowers Act, 2006 (Act 720).
9. Children's Privacy
Our Platform is not intended for children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18 years of age. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately at privacy@bantuhive.com.
If we discover that we have collected personal information from a child under 18, we will take steps to delete that information as quickly as possible.
9.1 Campaigns Benefiting Children
While children cannot use our Platform directly, fundraising campaigns may benefit children. In such cases:
- The campaign must be created by a parent, guardian, or authorized adult
- We limit the disclosure of identifying information about child beneficiaries
- Parental consent is required for any information relating to the child
10. Third-Party Links and Services
Our Platform may contain links to third-party websites, services, or applications that are not operated by us. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third-party services.
10.1 Third-Party Services We Integrate
- Payment Providers: Mobile money operators, banks, card networks
- Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram
- Analytics: Google Analytics, Mixpanel
- Communication: Email and SMS service providers
10.2 Your Responsibility
We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites or services before providing your personal information. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties.
11. Payment Processing
11.1 Payment Methods
We accept various payment methods including:
- Mobile money (MTN Mobile Money, Vodafone Cash, AirtelTigo Money)
- Bank transfers
- Debit and credit cards (Visa, Mastercard)
11.2 Payment Security
Payment information is processed by our PCI-DSS compliant payment partners. We do not store complete payment card numbers on our servers. All payment transactions are encrypted and processed securely.
11.3 Financial Information Retention
We retain transaction records as required by law and for dispute resolution purposes. Bank account and mobile money numbers are stored securely for processing payouts to fundraisers.
12. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons.
12.1 Notification of Changes
When we make changes to this Privacy Policy, we will:
- Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
- Post a notice on our Platform announcing the changes
- Send an email notification to registered users for material changes
- Obtain your consent where required by law
12.2 Your Continued Use
Your continued use of our Platform after any changes to this Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of those changes. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically.
13. Contact Information
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:
13.1 Data Protection Officer
- Email: dpo@bantuhive.com
- Phone: +233 551 563 081
13.2 General Inquiries
- Email: privacy@bantuhive.com
- Address: BantuHive Ltd, 27 Independence Avenue, Synergy Office Space, Takoradi Mall, Gate 2, Takoradi | Ghana
- Website: www.bantuhive.com/contact
13.3 Regulatory Authority
If you are not satisfied with our response to your privacy concerns, you may contact the Data Protection Commission of Ghana:
- Address: No. 7 Olusegun Obasanjo Way, Airport Residential Area, Accra
- Website: www.dataprotection.org.gh
Document Information
Version: 1.0
Effective Date: January 14, 2025
Next Review Date: January 14, 2026
Approved By: Board of Directors, BantuHive Ltd