In a bold step to strengthen the Country’s Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS), The National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), in collaboration with its partners and with support from UNICEF and the Government of Sierra Leone is conducting a two-day workshop at the Sierra Palm Hotel, Aberdeen in Freetown, with Members of the Parliamentary Committee on Internal Affairs, to review the Draft National Civil Registration Bill and four Regulations.
Giving an overview of the Draft Bill and its Regulations, the Director General of NCRA Mohamed Massaquoi, provided a detailed background of the purpose of the workshop. He described it as a critical intervention by key Stakeholders in addressing the subject for discussions, as the law mandate them to coordinate, implement and manage an account for CRVS and Identity Cards management functions in Sierra Leone. “Today’s workshop aims to present to you the Draft of four key Regulations that will back up the implementation of the Act,” he stated.
The four key Regulations according to DG Massaquoi included, the Civil Registration Regulation, the Vital Statistics Regulation, National Identification Number Regulation and the Identity Cards Regulation, which will be enacted following parliamentary approval.
Declaring the workshop open, the Minister of Internal Affairs Rtd AIG Morie Lengor Esq, said the review of the Bill and Regulations and its eventual enactment of the said draft will greatly enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the implementation of the mandate of the NCRA. He noted that the NCRA through the support of the Ministry, the government and its development partners have over the years engaged with Stakeholders to review the current NCR Act 2016. He commended the DG and team for the great strides made in achieving its objectives and functions especially in the areas of providing other MDAs with access to Civil Registration system.
“It must be noted that Civil Registration and Vital Statistics is a very important component in government planning and public administration which legal framework must be able to provide for all circumstances that may arise”, the Minister said.
Minister Lengor Esq, however concluded that the commencement of the workshop is important hoping that its participation will require MDAs to greatly rely on the data provided by NCRA in the implementation of their mandates, while appreciating the government and their partner – UNICEF for their support in making the workshop a reality.
A Representative from UNICEF Madam Patricia Gihens, Child Protection Specialist, underscored that the review of the Draft Bill provides regulations that are both national and international in the scope of Sierra Leone. She expressed thanks to the MIA and the NCRA for prioritising the Civil Registration which is at the heart of government’s agenda and the protection of fundamental rights. She closed pledging their support towards fulfilling government obligations nationally and internationally.
According to the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Internal Affairs Hon. Sarty Banya, in 2016 the Act made provision for the amendment and consolidation of the laws relating to compulsory registration of citizens and non-citizen residents of Sierra Leone. While commending the efforts of NCRA and partners, he notably revealed that great strides have been made in Identity management and securitization of the issuance of Identity cards, birth and deaths certificates as well as other aspects of the civil Registration and Civil status management of citizens. He however, stated that the Parliamentary Committee on Internal Affairs has played a vital role in the enactment of the legislation, and it is important that they have an overview to scrutinize the processes of the proposed new draft.
