Albert Baron Ansu
At a stakeholders validation session of the Data Protection Bill, Policy and Regulation documents both the United Nations and IRISH Aid partners have underscored the importance of data protection whilst pledging renewed commitment to support the government of Sierra Leone in enacting the law.
UNDP Resident Representative Pa Lamin Beyai in a brief statement commended the National Civil Registration Authority for the leadership role played in injecting the spirit of collaborative work that has gone into the legislative process to making data protection legally binding. He made reference to the broad consultative process that has been witnessed in the drafting of the law. He said with the increasing use of the online space, developed countries must not be unguarded in utilizing the space. He lamented there had been challenges with vital data fact that data breaches abound which is a reason to harness integrated civil registration where data is gathered, modified and stored appropriately with mechanism for accuracy at every stage.
Speaking in the same vein the Irish Ambassador to Sierra Leone Claire Beckley established the linkages of data protection to sustainable development goals. She stressed the importance of inclusive economy, civil registration, data harvest for MDAs. She urged all stakeholders to take ownership of the process that is evidently progressive.
Internal Affairs Minister Panda Noah pointed out that as data increases it is becoming increasingly important. He said the government of President Bio places premium on human capital development and the support displayed for data protection is in line with that agenda. He made mention of the sector specific data value highlighting education, agriculture, health among others. He added his voice to those who had earlier indicated that data protection was beneficial in terms of accountability for those who process and store data. He argued that this process is a means of enhancing public trust for sectors under his purview including the Police, the correctional centers, the fire services, among others.
Also making statement the Minister of Information Mohamed Rahman Swaray said the drama that surrounded the Cybersecurity and crime enactment create the need for the support a sister ministry. He said Sierra Leone is moving forward, referencing Nigeria where they had Cybersecurity and crime law in 2015 but it was 2019 that they passed the data protection law. He described Sierra Leone as being in the penultimate stage and in conformity with the MALABO and ECOWAS instruments. The minister disclosed that President Bio wants to leave a legacy of digital right and protection. He referred to the event as the crossing of a critical milestone and appealed for close collaboration, noting that he is not a territorial being but one who is conscious about the nexus between what is done at NCRA and the Ministry of Information and Communications. He observed that the post enactment popularization is even going to prove critical.
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion Kwame Yankson said that data protection is a safeguard for Cybersecurity and crime law. He said Sierra Leone is witnessing growth in data collection which calls for a predictable legislation. He stressed the point about the exponential value of data and warned against the creation of separate data regulatory structures.
For the Director of the NCRA Mohamed Massaquoi, the need for the validation exercise cannot be over-emphasized. He highlighted the extensive consultation that has been brought to bear in the drafting process involving over seventy institutions, ministries department and agencies, civil society organizations and other actors. He said there has valuable contributions and consensus in the process, adding that the have adhered to best practice to have the draft bill. He alluded to the immense contribution of various stakeholders include UNDP, Irish Aid, Ministry of Information, National Telecommunications Company. He cited provision in the NCRA Act that set out the right and obligation of the authority and other individuals providing and transmitting data and warned against identity theft.
Stakeholders later went into a plenary to make input on the draft bill that was presented by Counsel Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai and Marrah of the same chambers.