Financial Crime World

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Data Protection and Privacy in Finance Takes Centre Stage in Gambia

The Gambian authorities are making significant progress in their quest for robust data protection and privacy standards in the financial sector. This follows a recent validation workshop organized by the Council of Europe’s GLACY+ project and the Data Protection Unit, aimed at harmonizing Gambia’s data protection legal framework with international best practices.

Workshop Objectives

The event brought together representatives from government agencies, ministries, public and private sectors, as well as civil society organizations. The objectives were to discuss recommendations and conclusions drawn from a desk analysis on setting up a Data Protection and Privacy Agency.

Agency Structure

The agency is envisioned as either a standalone body or merged with the Access to Information Commission. This structure is inspired by models of data protection authorities in various countries, including those that have successfully implemented robust data protection systems.

International Standards

The workshop also drew upon provisions of international data protection standards, including:

  • The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
  • Convention 108+

This underscores the global significance of Convention 108+, which has been a key focus area for the Council of Europe in supporting Gambia’s legislative process on data protection since 2019.

Next Steps

The data protection bill is expected to be tabled before Parliament in March 2022, marking a major milestone in the country’s journey towards strengthened data protection and privacy safeguards. This development is set to have a significant impact on the financial sector, ensuring that Gambian citizens’ personal data is protected and respected.

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