By Sallieu S. Kanu
Freetown, Sierra Leone – June 30, 2025: In a decisive move to strengthen Sierra Leone’s Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system, the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), with support from the Government and UNICEF, kicked off a two-day workshop at the Sierra Palm Hotel, Aberdeen. The session convenes Members of the Parliamentary Committee on Internal Affairs to review the Draft National Civil Registration Bill alongside four critical supporting regulations.
Director General of the NCRA, Mohamed Massaquoi, opened the session with an overview of the Draft Bill and Regulations, underscoring their purpose in aligning national legal frameworks with evolving civil registration needs. “Today’s workshop presents four key regulations to support the Act’s implementation,” he stated.
The proposed regulations include:
– Civil Registration Regulation
– Vital Statistics Regulation
– National Identification Number Regulation
– Identity Cards Regulation
These will be enacted upon parliamentary approval to enhance coordination, identity management, and accountability in Sierra Leone’s registration systems.
Minister of Internal Affairs, Rtd AIG Morie Lengor Esq, officially opened the workshop, applauding the NCRA’s efforts and highlighting the importance of an efficient legal framework. “Civil registration and vital statistics are essential to national planning and governance. This review ensures the law reflects all possible scenarios,” he noted.
Representing UNICEF, Patricia Gihens, Child Protection Specialist, commended the focus on aligning national identity systems with global standards and reaffirmed UNICEF’s support for achieving inclusive legal identity for all.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Internal Affairs, Hon. Sarty Banya, reflected on the progress since the 2016 Act, citing significant achievements in identity management, birth and death registration, and the issuance of secured identity cards. He reaffirmed Parliament’s role in providing oversight and guidance throughout the legislative review process.
This initiative marks a critical step toward strengthening governance, identity rights, and data systems in Sierra Leone—laying the groundwork for a more inclusive, transparent, and data-driven public administration.