The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission’s Directorate of Digital Economy and Post conducted an online workshop on October 21, 2024. The purpose was to review the preliminary draft of the revised Supplementary Act A/SA.1/01/10 concerning personal data protection within ECOWAS.
This workshop aimed to refine the draft by incorporating recommendations from a previous session held on July 15 in Abuja. The goal is to enhance personal data protection across the ECOWAS region.
Presentations were delivered by Groupe DPSE, followed by discussions on member states’ inputs and validation of provisions and recommendations. Participants included representatives from ECOWAS Commission’s Directorate of Digital Economy and Post, Ministries of Digital Economy from ECOWAS Member States, Data Protection Authorities from these states, and Groupe DPSE.
Originally adopted in 2010, the ECOWAS Supplementary Act on Personal Data Protection serves as a vital regional framework for data protection. Its revision is deemed necessary due to challenges posed by digitalization and evolving global data protection trends. This workshop forms part of broader efforts by the African Union Data Policy Framework to bolster data protection in Africa.
The updated Supplementary Act aims to provide a robust framework for safeguarding personal data while promoting digital economy growth and ensuring confidentiality. This initiative is carried out with cooperation from the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), under the Data Governance in Africa project supported by GIZ African Union.
