Gambia Information Commission signs landmark Agreements with Morocco and Nigeria

The developments mark a significant milestone for The Gambia’s efforts to strengthen access to information, transparency, data protection, and digital governance through greater regional and international cooperation. The first agreement was signed with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) aimed at strengthening privacy protection, regulatory cooperation, and digital trust within the West African region. The agreement establishes a framework for mutual legal assistance, structured information sharing, joint regulatory cooperation, capacity development, and collaboration in addressing emerging challenges in data protection and digital security. In a separate development, The Gambia Information commission signed an MOU with Morocco’s Right of Access to Information Commission (CDAI) to enhance cooperation in promoting and implementing the right of access to information. Through the MoU, both institutions will collaborate in areas including the exchange of experiences and knowledge and best practices in implementing access to information frameworks. The agreement will also facilitate cooperation in joint conferences and seminars, research, and capacity-building programmes. Speaking on the significance of the two agreements, Chairperson Neneh MacDouall-Gaye who signed on behalf of the Gambia information Commission, described them as important steps. She said the partnerships would enable The Gambia to work more closely with other African countries, exchange institutional experiences and knowledge, and benefit from innovative approaches being developed across the continent. “Data knows no borders, and by combining our strengths and sharing knowledge, we are laying the foundation for greater digital trust and sustainable innovation,” she said. Dr Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, who signed on behalf of Nigeria, said cooperation among African regulators is essential in addressing challenges posed by the rapidly changing digital landscape. He noted that the global digital economy is interconnected, cooperation and collaboration through MoUs are essential in fostering trust and building investors’ confidence from one country to the other. For his part, the president of the Moroccan Right to information and Data Protection Commission, Mr. Omar Seghrouchni, expressed optimism in the potential for harmonization citing that collaboration and partnerships are in key in building trust in the digital economy. Meanwhile, the Information Commission of The Gambia has also been unanimously admitted as a member of the African Network of Information Commissions (ANIC), a continental platform that brings together African institutions responsible for overseeing access to information. Membership of ANIC will provide the Gambia Information Commission with greater opportunities to engage with peer institutions across Africa, share experiences and best practice, strengthen institutional capacity, and contribute to improving access to public information on the continent. The Commission said the partnerships with Morocco and Nigeria and its admission into the African Network of Information Commissions, ANIC and the Network of African Data Protection Authorities, NADPA reflect its commitment to building stronger regional alliances, which is key for harmonization and overcoming shared challenges in protecting citizens data and information rights and advancing good governance.