MONROVIA – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has submitted a bill to the Liberian Legislature aimed at establishing a legal framework for the protection of personal data in the country. Titled An Act for the Collection, Processing, Transmission, Storage, Protection, and Use of Personal Information in Liberia, the proposed legislation seeks to regulate how personal information is handled by individuals, institutions, and data processors operating within Liberia, the ECOWAS region, and beyond.
The bill applies to data controllers and processors involved in the collection, transmission, storage, and use of personal data belonging to Liberian residents or persons whose information is processed within Liberia’s jurisdiction. According to the President, the legislation balances the privacy rights of individuals with the legitimate interests of the State.
The proposal is largely modeled after a draft supplementary act developed by the ECOWAS Commission on Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalization. That regional draft underwent multiple rounds of validation, including a session in Ganta, Nimba County, attended by representatives from ten counties, and another session in Monrovia that brought together key stakeholders in data protection, technology, and governance.
President Boakai emphasized that Liberia must align with regional and international standards to ensure the rights of individuals are safeguarded in an increasingly digital world. He argued that personal data has become a valuable and sensitive asset, and protecting it is essential to maintaining trust in both public and private institutions.
The bill has been referred to the House of Representatives’ Committee on Post and Telecommunications. Lawmakers are expected to scrutinize its provisions and present a report within two weeks. If passed, Liberia would join several other ECOWAS member states that have already enacted data protection laws.
