Pursuant to the decision of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in 2014 to adopt the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC) as an official travel document to replace the hand-written ECOWAS Travel Certificate, the ECOWAS Commission through the Directorate of Free Movement of Persons and Migration embarked on an advocacy and sensitization campaign in Member States to popularize the ENBIC.
On June 13 and 14, 2024, the ECOWAS Commission launched the campaign in Monrovia, Liberia, where an ECOWAS delegation led by the Director of Free Movement of Persons and Migration, Mr. Albert Siaw-Boateng, met with the Liberia Immigration Service, the National Identification Registry, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Siaw-Boateng conveyed gratitude on behalf of the ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mrs. Massandje Toure-Litse, to the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Liberia, Mrs. Josephine Nkrumah, for her efforts in mobilizing stakeholders and to the Liberian authorities for their keen interest in advancing the implementation of the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card in Liberia.
He informed that the ENBIC is currently deployed in six ECOWAS Member States namely Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Benin, The Gambia and Sierra Leone and urged Liberia to recognize the card issued by these countries. “Liberia can make history by being the first country to accept the ENBIC issued by other Member States and ECOWAS is ready to support Liberia in this regard,” confirmed Mr. Siaw-Boateng.
In response, Liberian authorities expressed their willingness to accept the ENBIC from other Member States. Mr. Stephen Zargo, Commissioner General of Liberia Immigration Service, expressed readiness to collaborate with other Member States for successful implementation. “We have the capacity to work along with other countries to see how that can be implemented,” said Mr. Zargo.
The Executive Director of the National Identification Registry (NIR) Liberia, Mr. Andrew Peters highlighted progress made in identity management systems but cited financial constraints and lack of citizens’ demand as obstacles. He solicited support from ECOWAS in mobilizing funding for this purpose.
In Sierra Leone, on June 18, 2024, an ECOWAS delegation met with representatives at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The meeting aimed to ensure compliance in implementing processes and advocate for acceptability from other Member States that have successfully implemented ENBIC.
Mr. Stephen Levey, Director for Africa at Sierra Leone's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation expressed commitment to facilitating intra-regional movement. “This issue is very close to our hearts in the Foreign Ministry because it’s one of our key mandates to ensure unhindered movement of our citizens within the sub-region,” he echoed while highlighting challenges including high costs compared to local ID cards and lack of recognition from other countries making access difficult for citizens.
Mr. Siaw-Boateng stressed ENBIC’s security benefits and assured ECOWAS support for Sierra Leone’s implementation efforts.
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