Senior officials of the regional group, Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS), will be introducing biometric ID badges in January of 2016. (PlanetBiometric.com)
ECOWAS Breaks the News about ID Badges
Sena Siam Boateng, the Head of ECOWAS National Office, made the announcement at an ECOWAS protocol seminar for public servants, border operators and civil society organizations. The importance of the ID badges was reiterated by The Northern Regional Commander of the Ghana Immigration Service, Adi Eric, when he stated that the badges would help to enhance security and the free movement of people, services and goods. These new ID badges will be pushed out alongside the existing ones until there has been a full implementation in the region.
As stated by the ECOWAS Commission last December, the biometric ID badges are “another milestone in the march to regional integration through unfettered movement of Community citizens.”
Presently, The Common Market for Eastern & Southern Africa (COMESA) states are concurrently considering a similar program for ID badges that can used for official travel.
