The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ECOWAS have convened a meeting aimed at discussing the way forward in protecting the Liberia passport and ECOWAS member states,
This is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the security of Liberia’s National Identity.
Speaking at a special visit of the ECOWAS Commission Directorate for Free Movement of Persons and Migration on during the weekend held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti stressed the importance of protecting the National identity, recognizing the challenges the process poses.
Foreign Minister Nyanti lauded the Liberia Immigration Service for the meeting and pointed out steps that the Ministry under her leadership has taken to address the passport issue, which is directly under the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
The Foreign Affairs Minister noted that these steps, though a lot needs to be done, will endeavor in strengthening risk relative to Regular ECOWAS passport.
Minister Nyanti further noted, that due to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ stance, an inter-ministerial meeting was convened including all stakeholders, the National Identification Registry, the National Election Commission, Liberia Immigration Service, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Ministry of Health amongst others.
The meeting aimed at strategizing a way forward with a national system that promotes and strengthens National security.
According to the Foreign Affairs Minister, a consensus was reached for the National Identification Registry to be the foundation of the National system affecting ECOWAS region
Minister Nyanti Furyher maintained that President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, Sr., has embraced the actions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for leading the charge.
She highlighted the need that ECOWAS be aware of challenges due to territorial, legacy, and constitutional issues which contravene having a fixed system that protects all Liberians.
Foreign Minister Nyanti disclosed the appointment of a Deputy Minister to head the Bureau of Passport and Visas which will include both the current and new structure for visas to be centralized.
This, she believed, would alleviate visas on arrival and transition to an e-visa system as a means of collective effort to strengthen Liberia’s National security and protect Liberians in and abroad for free movement of ECOWAS citizens.
Minister Nyanti underscored the need for a harmonized approach through the collection of biometrics that meets international standards, adding that ECOWAS support for the process is cardinal.
For her part, ECOWAS Special Representative to Liberia, Ambassador Josephine Nkrumah said the visit was crucial to discuss ECOWAS National identification and how it can be explored and rolled out by the decisions taken by member states since 2014.
Nkrumah took note of the steps that Liberia is taking and informed that the ECOWAS Commission has had engagements with the Liberia Immigration Service Director, and the National Identification Registry and they are confident that Liberia is on the right path.
She acknowledged, that Liberia has shown commitment to harmonize identity issues that impact the lives of people.
The ECOWAS Ambassador named women empowerment, and financial inclusion as key areas of importance in the approach saying, “Liberia was the first Country to accept the ECOW passport as a travel document to all African countries.”
Also speaking, the Director of Free Movement of Persons and Migration Albert S. Boateng said the significance of the visit focused on advocacy and sensitization of ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC).
He said the ENBIC will replace the handwritten travel certificate.
The adoption of the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card was in December 2014 by the authority of Heads of State and government, which all member states cued into and signed the supplementary act of 2012.
However, the deployment of the card was concluded by all member states in 2016.
Concerning resource issues, a few member states deployed but up to the current six member states are fully deployed, including Senegal, and Guinea Bissau, followed by Ghana, Benin, Gambia, and Sierra Leone.
Boateng described the visit to Liberia as significant to launch the National platform.
Also making remarks, Liberia Immigration Service Steve Zargo Boss said the ECOWAS Biometric ID Card is key for Liberia as a member state of ECOWAS.
Zargo said the utilization of the card will enhance economy, and security add speed, and convenience, and harmonize what we do as a people and an adherence to the ECOWAS protocol as a founding member State.
The Deputy Minister for International Cooperation and Economic Integration, Ibrahim Al-Bakri Nyei on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs extolled the ECOWAS Special Envoy for the visit and noted that a consensus is almost being reached on the economic and social utility of the adoption of the ECOWAS National Biometric.
Credit: Willie N. Togbah/ Contributor
