Biometric I.D: Togolese government wishes to regulate personal data processing

ITC

Monday, 05 September 2022 09:16

Biometric I.D: Togolese government wishes to regulate personal data processing

(Togo First) - As part of its ongoing biometric ID project, the Togolese government wants to regulate the related data processing and updating. Last Wednesday, Aug 31, the council of ministers examined a draft decree on the modalities of registration, rectification, and updating of demographic and biometric data of individuals and conditions for using the unique ID number in the country.

"This decree defines practical modalities for implementing registration procedures relative to the allocation of unique identification numbers," the council’s statement reads.

In Togo, the implementation of a single ID number is carried out by the National Identification Agency (ANID), and backed by the WURI program in which the World Bank poured about $400 million. The WURI covers six West African countries.

While negotiations on the regulatory framework are underway, ANID says the biometric registration platform for Togolese residents should be ready by the end of 2022.

With their unique ID number, people should access both public and private services and travel across ECOWAS more easily. The database built in the process should also enable the country to better target certain types of support programs, knowingly those benefiting vulnerable populations.

Written by: Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Translated from French by Schadrac Akinocho

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