Privacy Policy - ChikakuMarket Student Marketplace Ghana

ChikakuMarket is committed to protecting the privacy and security of our users' personal information. This privacy policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our student marketplace platform.

Data Protection Commitment

As Ghana's leading student marketplace, ChikakuMarket complies with applicable data protection laws and regulations. We prioritize the security of student information including student IDs, Ghana Card details, university email addresses, and transaction data.

Information We Collect from Students

When you register for ChikakuMarket, we collect essential information including your full name, university email address (.edu.gh), phone number, student ID for verification, and Ghana Card for identity confirmation. For sellers, we may collect additional information to facilitate secure transactions.

How We Protect Your Data

All personal information is encrypted using industry-standard SSL/TLS protocols. Payment information is processed through PayStack's secure escrow system - we never store your full payment details on our servers. Student verification documents are securely stored with restricted access.

Your Privacy Rights as a Student

Under Ghana's Data Protection Act, you have the right to access your personal data, request corrections, request deletion, object to processing, and withdraw consent. Contact our privacy team at privacy@chikakumarket.com to exercise these rights.

Data Retention Periods

Account information is retained while your account is active. Transaction records are kept for 5 years for tax and legal compliance. Inactive accounts are deleted after 2 years. Verification documents are securely deleted after the verification process is complete.

Contact Our Privacy Team

For privacy-related questions or concerns, email privacy@chikakumarket.com. Our privacy team responds within 5 business days. You may also call +233 556 811 607 during business hours.

Privacy Policy

Last Updated: January 15, 2026

Your privacy is important to us. This policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information on Ghana's trusted student marketplace.

1. Introduction

Welcome to ChikakuMarket ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website or use our services as Ghana's premier student marketplace.

By accessing or using ChikakuMarket, you agree to this Privacy Policy. If you disagree with any part of this policy, please do not access the site.

2. Information We Collect

Personal Information

We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:

  • Register a student account
  • List an item for sale on the marketplace
  • Make a purchase using PayStack escrow
  • Contact our student support team
  • Participate in surveys or promotions

Information Includes:

  • Name and contact details: Full name, email address (.edu.gh), phone number
  • University information: Student ID, university name, campus location, hall of residence
  • Verification documents: Ghana Card, Student ID photo (securely stored and encrypted)
  • Transaction information: Purchase history, payment details (processed securely through PayStack)
  • Profile information: Profile picture, bio, seller ratings and reviews
  • Communication data: Messages between buyers and sellers on the platform

Automatically Collected Information

We automatically collect certain information when you visit our platform:

  • Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device model
  • Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent, search queries, links clicked
  • Location Data: General location (city/university campus level) for service optimization

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for various purposes to serve Ghanaian students better:

To provide and maintain our service

Create and manage your student account, process transactions through PayStack escrow, and enable safe campus meetups

To verify user identity

Authenticate student status through Ghana Card and Student ID verification to ensure a trusted marketplace

To enable communication

Facilitate secure messaging between buyers and sellers for item inquiries and campus meetup coordination

To send notifications

Provide real-time updates about transactions, security alerts, price drops, and marketplace news

To improve our services

Analyze usage patterns to enhance user experience, develop new features, and optimize campus delivery

To ensure safety and compliance

Detect and prevent fraud, enforce our community guidelines, and comply with legal obligations in Ghana

4. Data Security

We implement industry-standard technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information:

Our Security Measures:

  • Encryption: All data transmitted is encrypted using SSL/TLS protocols (256-bit encryption)
  • Secure Storage: Sensitive information is stored in encrypted Firebase databases with strict access controls
  • Access Control: Role-based access controls limit who can view your personal information
  • Regular Audits: Security audits conducted quarterly to identify and address vulnerabilities
  • Escrow Protection: Payment information is fully protected through PayStack's PCI-DSS compliant escrow service
  • Data Minimization: We only collect information necessary for marketplace functionality

Despite our robust safeguards, no system is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee the absolute security of your information, but we continuously work to protect your privacy.

5. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information. We may share information in the following limited circumstances:

With Other Users (As Necessary for Transactions)

When you transact on ChikakuMarket, certain information is shared with other users to facilitate safe trades:

  • Your name and university (for buyer/seller identification during campus meetups)
  • Item listings you create (visible to all marketplace users)
  • Ratings and reviews you provide (helps build community trust)
  • Response time and activity status (to manage expectations)

With Service Providers

We may engage trusted third-party companies to help us operate:

  • PayStack: Process payments securely through escrow (they have their own privacy policy)
  • Firebase/Google: Host our database and authentication services
  • Email Service Providers: Send order confirmations and notifications
  • Analytics Providers: Analyze website usage (anonymized data only)
  • Customer Support Tools: Help us respond to your inquiries

Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or in response to valid requests by public authorities in Ghana.

6. Your Privacy Rights as a Student

Under Ghana's Data Protection Act (Act 843) and applicable regulations, you have the following rights:

Your Rights Include:

  • Right to Access: Request copies of your personal data we hold
  • Right to Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
  • Right to Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data ("right to be forgotten")
  • Right to Object: Object to processing of your personal data in certain circumstances
  • Right to Data Portability: Request transfer of your data to another service
  • Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time without affecting previous processing
  • Right to Lodge a Complaint: File a complaint with Ghana's Data Protection Commission

To exercise these rights, contact our privacy team at privacy@chikakumarket.com. We will respond within 30 days as required by law.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy:

  • Account Information: Retained while your account is active and for 2 years after inactivity
  • Transaction Records: 5 years for tax compliance, fraud prevention, and legal requirements
  • Inactive Accounts: Permanently deleted after 2 years of inactivity (you'll receive warning emails)
  • Verification Documents: Securely deleted 30 days after successful verification (status recorded, docs removed)
  • Chat Messages: Retained for 1 year to resolve disputes, then anonymized
  • Analytics Data: Anonymized and retained for 26 months for trend analysis

8. Children's Privacy

ChikakuMarket is designed for university students and individuals above 18 years. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 18. If we discover that a child under 18 has provided us with personal information, we will delete it immediately. Parents or guardians who believe their child has provided us with information should contact us immediately.

9. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and maintained on servers located outside of Ghana (for example, Firebase/Google Cloud servers). We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data in accordance with this policy and applicable laws.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons. We will notify you of any material changes by:

  • Posting the new policy on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date
  • Sending an email notification to registered users for significant changes
  • Displaying a banner notice on our website for 30 days

We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your privacy.

11. Contact Our Privacy Team

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, our data practices, or wish to exercise your privacy rights, please contact us:

Email: privacy@chikakumarket.com

Alternate Email: support@chikakumarket.com

Phone: +233 556 811 607 (Mon-Fri, 9AM-5PM GMT)

Subject Line: Privacy Policy Inquiry or Data Request

Response Time: Within 5 business days