By:
Nana Appiah Acquaye
Côte d’Ivoire’s Telecommunications and ICT
Regulatory Authority (ARTCI) has intensified efforts to strengthen data
protection compliance within the country’s banking and financial sector through
the promotion of CERTINUM, its national digital platform for managing personal
data processing authorizations.
The regulator held a series of engagement sessions
on July 29 and 30 with members of the Professional Association of Banks and
Financial Institutions of Côte d’Ivoire (APBEF-CI) to introduce the platform
and demonstrate how it can support institutions in meeting regulatory
obligations.
The meetings brought together Data Protection
Officers, Compliance Officers, Chief Information Officers and Operations
Managers from banks and financial institutions to discuss the country's legal
requirements governing the processing of personal data.
During the sessions, ARTCI outlined the national
compliance framework, explained the procedures for obtaining confirmations and
authorizations related to personal data processing, and demonstrated the
functionality of the CERTINUM platform.
The digital platform has been developed to
streamline the submission and management of requests for approvals and
authorizations, replacing manual processes with a centralized electronic system
designed to improve efficiency and regulatory compliance.
According to ARTCI, the initiative forms part of
its broader strategy to support organizations in implementing responsible data
governance practices while ensuring compliance with Côte d’Ivoire’s personal
data protection regulations.
The regulator said the engagement with financial
institutions reflects its commitment to providing practical digital tools that
simplify compliance procedures and strengthen the secure and responsible
management of personal data.