The Personal Data Protection Authority (IPDCP) of Togo has initiated a significant step towards enhancing corporate data protection compliance by training its inaugural cohort of Data Protection Correspondents (DPCs). On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, the authority formally recognised 32 professionals who successfully completed a rigorous three-day training programme held in Adétikopé.
These newly certified DPCs hail from a diverse range of critical sectors, including banking, insurance, telecommunications, local government, healthcare, and transportation, as well as other public and private administrations. This initiative is a direct outgrowth of the implementation of Togo’s 2019 law on personal data protection. The DPCs are now tasked with providing crucial support to their respective organisations, ensuring adherence to regulatory mandates. Their responsibilities will encompass vital functions such as data mapping, maintaining processing registers, conducting data protection impact assessments, managing data breaches, and fostering a culture of data privacy awareness among employees.
Colonel Bédiani Belei, President of the IPDCP, underscored the pivotal role these correspondents will play, designating them as permanent liaisons for the authority within companies and administrations. “You are now secondary actors, our ambassadors, pillars, and essential links for the protection of personal data,” he stated during the certificate presentation. “Individuals who, within their respective companies, must advise, raise awareness, and act as liaison points.” This development is particularly timely, given the substantial volumes of personal data processed daily by financial institutions, telecommunications operators, and various service providers.
The inaugural beneficiaries have expressed strong affirmation of the training’s practical relevance. Jacob Tapé, a correspondent from Ecobank Togo, commented, “We were able to gain a good understanding of the law on the protection of personal data. The practical workshops allowed us to see concretely how to implement the processing register and the data protection impact assessment.”
The IPDCP views this first cohort as the commencement of a broader professionalisation programme for data protection correspondents. The authority has outlined plans for a continuous monitoring and certification system, aimed at standardising data protection practices nationwide and progressively aligning Togo’s regulatory framework with international benchmarks in digital governance. This strategic move is set to equip businesses with the necessary expertise to navigate the complexities of data protection laws, thereby mitigating risks and fostering greater trust in the digital economy.
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