By Idrissa Bangura  

Major General [Rtd] David T.O. Taluva made a familiarization visit to the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA). The visit was to further strengthening and foster the good working relationship of the authority’s leadership and operations within Sierra Leone’s Civil Registration, vital statistics, and identity management sectors.

The meeting between the Minister and the Management of the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) aimed to build insights into the authority’s accomplishments, strategies, challenges, and potential opportunities, the Director General presentation spotlighted the evolution of NCRA’s role, including its centralization of vital events registration, which were dispersed previously among various institutions.

The Director General highlighted key achievements including the successful introduction and assignment of National Identification Numbers to all citizens and registered nationals. Another issue highlighted was the issuance of Securitized Birth and Death Certificates as another milestone made possible through collaboration between the development partners. The Director General also highlighted the nationwide presence of NCRA across Sierra Leone administrative districts.

The familiarization visit also emphasized NCRA’s collaboration with different systems, an in-country ID card production company, enabling the issuance of Multi-Purpose Biometric identity cards to citizens within the ECOWAS Member State and other nationals.

The Authority provision of identity verification services to various government agencies such as National Revenue Authority, Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority, Immigration Department and Banks. The composition and structure of NCRA was highlighted, consisting of 11 Board Members with a mixture of statutory and discipline-related members.

The Minister was briefed on a comprehensive country assessment conducted by the United Nations Global Office, showing Sierra Leone preparedness and integrated approach to Civil Registration and Vital Statistics and identity management. The Minister continued to applaud NCRA’S effort to streamline government pay roll and emphasized the importance National Identity Numbers for improving financial transactions and improving national security.

The Minister ended with important insights in donor fund communication and the relevance of concerted team work. He emphasized the need to direct donor funds to the ministry for cabinet discussion and to advise NCRA staff to come together to achieve national goals. The event was witnessed by various NCRA personnel and the vote of thanks was delivered by the Director of the Births and Deaths Directorate.