By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Benin’s data protection
authority has called for stronger and more coordinated data governance
frameworks to support the growth of digital financial services in Africa while
protecting privacy, strengthening user trust and promoting responsible
innovation.
The call was made by Luciano
Hounkponou, President of the Autorité de Protection des Données Personnelles
(APDP) of Benin, during the Regulators’ Forum held in Johannesburg as part of
the second MTN Group Annual Fintech Summit from September 1 to 3, 2026.
Hounkponou participated in a
panel on “Trusted Data Governance: Artificial Intelligence and Cross-Border
Information Flows,” where he examined the growing importance of data governance
as financial services become increasingly dependent on data and artificial
intelligence.
He said the circulation of
data is essential to the development of digital and financial services but can
only deliver its full potential when users, businesses and regulators have
confidence in how data is collected, shared and used.
According to Hounkponou,
building such an environment of trust requires stronger legal and regulatory
frameworks, enhanced technological security and interoperability, transparent
and shared governance, as well as greater user awareness and education.
He also called for improved
coordination between national data protection authorities and other
institutions involved in the collection and processing of personal data, as
well as stronger cooperation among data protection authorities across different
countries.
The need for greater
cooperation is particularly important as digital financial services
increasingly operate across borders. Harmonised approaches, he said, would help
regulators better address the specific requirements of the financial sector and
strengthen consistency in data protection rules.
Hounkponou further stressed
the importance of involving national and regional financial supervisory
authorities in data governance discussions to ensure that the expansion of
digital financial services remains aligned with personal data protection requirements.
The discussions at the
summit highlighted the growing intersection between artificial intelligence,
data governance and financial services, with regulators facing the challenge of
balancing innovation and cross-border data flows with privacy, security and
consumer trust.
The APDP President said the
future of African digital finance depends on maintaining this balance, ensuring
that data and innovation serve as drivers of development while protecting the
rights and confidence of users.
