Damane Cash is adding a digital service to its network of branches, allowing people and businesses to get qualified electronic signatures at local agencies. The company has been working for several months as a Delegated Registration Authority for AfricTrust. The service follows authorisation given by the General Directorate for Information Systems Security (DGSSI) to Eurafric Information under Law No. 43-20.
The new service means an artisan, very small or medium-sized business, or an individual can visit a Damane Cash agency to verify their identity and obtain a qualified electronic signature certificate.
The certificate can then be used to sign documents remotely. A qualified electronic signature has the same legal value as a handwritten signature under Law No. 43-20, which sets the rules for trusted electronic services.
The system is designed to make electronic certification easier to access. Users who may not be familiar with digital certificates or who face difficulties with remote identity checks can complete the process at a physical agency.
Damane Cash is using its network of branches as a local access point for a service that is normally handled through more technical digital processes.
The service can be useful for small businesses and independent professionals in several ways.
An artisan taking part in a public or private tender can get a qualified certificate at a nearby agency and use it to sign quotation documents, technical documents and administrative forms remotely. This can help avoid postal and courier costs and delays.
A growing very small enterprise can use the certificate to sign supplier contracts or real estate leases with partners in other cities. The process removes the need to print, sign, scan and send paper contracts. It also allows the business to keep documents in a digital archive.
An independent consultant can use the certificate to sign service agreements and tax documents while working from home. The process can reduce problems linked to remote identification and incorrect digital certification.
The initiative brings together Damane Cash, Eurafric Information and AfricTrust. Damane Cash is a subsidiary of Bank of Africa.
The company is extending its traditional role as a local service provider into digital trust services. Its branch network now provides a physical point where users can complete the identity checks needed to access electronic signatures.
The service is aimed at individuals, artisans, professionals and very small and medium-sized businesses, and forms part of the wider move towards digital transactions under Law No. 43-20.
