Introduction
The International Trade Institute for West Africa (ITIWA) is committed to protecting the privacy of all individuals who visit our website at itiwa.org. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights in relation to it. By using our website, you agree to the practices described in this policy.
1. Who We Are
The International Trade Institute for West Africa (ITIWA) is an academic institute registered in Ghana with offices in Accra, Ghana and Geneva, Switzerland. We provide training in international trade law and related disciplines to government officials, legal practitioners, business professionals, and students across West Africa and beyond.
For any privacy-related queries, you may contact us at:
Email: ghana@itiwa.org
Phone: +233 27 277 9411
2. Information We Collect
We may collect the following types of information when you visit or interact with our website:
Information you provide voluntarily:
- Your name and email address if you contact us directly via email
- Any other information you choose to share in correspondence with us
Information collected automatically:
- Standard web server logs including your IP address, browser type, operating system, and pages visited
- Cookies and similar tracking technologies (see Section 6 below)
We do not operate any online registration or payment systems on this website. We do not collect sensitive personal data such as financial information, identification numbers, or health data through this site.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
- To respond to enquiries sent to us directly by email
- To improve the performance and content of our website
- To understand how visitors interact with our site in order to enhance the user experience
- To comply with any applicable legal or regulatory obligations
We do not use your personal information for automated decision-making or profiling.
4. Legal Basis for Processing
Where applicable under data protection law, we process your personal information on the following legal bases:
- Legitimate interests: To operate and improve our website and respond to communications directed to us
- Consent: Where you have voluntarily provided your information to contact us
- Legal obligation: Where we are required to process information to comply with applicable law
5. Sharing of Information
ITIWA does not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We may share information only in the following circumstances:
- With service providers who assist us in operating our website, subject to confidentiality obligations
- Where required by law, regulation, or court order
- In connection with collaborating institutions such as the Advisory Centre on WTO Law (ACWL) and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, solely for the purpose of delivering jointly organised training programmes, and only with your knowledge
6. Cookies
Our website may use cookies — small text files placed on your device — to help us understand how visitors use the site. These may include:
- Essential cookies: Required for the website to function correctly
- Analytics cookies: Used to collect anonymous information about how visitors navigate the site
You may disable cookies through your browser settings at any time. Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain parts of the website.
7. Data Retention
We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by applicable law. Email correspondence is retained for a reasonable period to manage ongoing communications and is then securely deleted.
8. Your Rights
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights in relation to your personal data:
- The right to access the personal information we hold about you
- The right to request correction of inaccurate information
- The right to request deletion of your personal information
- The right to object to or restrict our processing of your information
- The right to withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at ghana@itiwa.org. We will respond within a reasonable timeframe and in accordance with applicable law.
9. Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to third-party websites including collaborating institutions and partner organisations. ITIWA is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.
10. Children's Privacy
Our website and services are directed at adults and professionals. We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under the age of 18. If you believe a minor has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will promptly delete it.
11. Changes to This Policy
ITIWA reserves the right to update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. We encourage you to review this page periodically.
12. Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:
International Trade Institute for West Africa (ITIWA)
Accra, Ghana
Email: ghana@itiwa.org
Phone: +233 27 277 9411
Geneva Office:
Email: geneva@itiwa.org
Phone: +41 79 385 6129