Liberia has completed the procurement process for an Austrian technology company to develop a new national biometric identification system under a public-private partnership, the National Identification Registry has disclosed, with a concession agreement finalised and awaiting presidential approval.
NIR Communications Director Daniel Sloh Sargbe said the agreement was developed through the relevant inter-ministerial committee between the selected company and the government, represented by the NIR and the Liberia Telecommunications Authority. It has been submitted to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for approval and is expected to go to the Legislature for ratification.
The registry previously identified the partner as Austrian firm OSD. In a June clarification it said all biometric data remains the sole property of the Republic of Liberia, with the company’s role limited to technical solutions while the NIR manages enrollment and data custody. The registry has said the partnership is meant to attract investment covering new ICT equipment, logistics and a mass enrollment campaign, with a goal of enrolling the full population within 18 months.
The concession is intended to resolve the technical and financial problems that led the government to suspend issuance of national biometric identification cards on June 23, 2025. Mass enrollment of citizens and legal residents has been ordered under Executive Order 147, and Sargbe said speedy ratification would allow implementation, resumption of NIR services and continuation of that exercise.
Institutions consulted in the concession process included the telecommunications authority, the Central Bank of Liberia, the National Elections Commission, several ministries and the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission. Sargbe said their participation was intended to ensure compliance with procurement and concession laws. He rejected allegations circulating on social media questioning the process.
The registry has begun preparing enrollment infrastructure ahead of the nationwide exercise, with Executive Director Andrew Peters leading a delegation to Lofa County to oversee the establishment of enrollment offices beginning in Salayea.
The programme has run into vendor trouble before. Liberia suspended a biometric ID contract amid procurement controversy, and the World Bank earlier debarred Dutch biometrics firm GenKey over fraudulent practices in a Liberia project.
Sources: The New Dawn
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
