ECOWAS Commission Empowers Women Groups at Border Communities in Saõ Domingos, Guinea-Bissau Communities Through the Issuance of The Ecowas National Biometric Identity Cards

Within the framework of enhancing the accessibility and acceptability of the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC) to facilitate mobility and trade within the Community, the ECOWAS Commission in conjunction with the German Cooperation (GIZ) embarked on a women empowerment drive to identify women groups in Border Communities and facilitate the issuance of the Regional Biometric Card to specific groups to reduce harassment and ease mobility amongst vulnerable persons at the borders.

During the engagement with the Director General of Immigration, Mr. Liad Lea Da Silva and the Executive Secretary of the National Boundary Commission, Ms Balbina da Pina Gomes in Guinea-Bissau, the Director of Free Movement of Persons and Migration, Mr. Albert Siaw-Boateng on behalf of the Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mrs Massandje Toure-Litse underpinned the objectives of the mission and encouraged continuous dialogue between the relevant border authorities in countries with contiguous borders and the ECOWAS Commission in order to collectively address challenges faced at the borders in a concerted and efficient manner.

The delegation also met with representatives of women groups within the Saõ Domingos border communities to sensitize them on valid travel documents, address the various challenges meted out to women, as well as facilitate the issuance of the ECOWAS National Biometric Card by issuing authorities as a tool to ease their mobility and address the harassment and extortion faced at borders.