Honourable Alpha Ben Mansaray, Member of Parliament for Moyamba District and Deputy Parliamentary Spokesperson for the All People’s Congress (APC), has issued a strong appeal to the Council of Paramount Chiefs to support the establishment of National Identity Card registration centres at Chiefdom and Sectional levels across Sierra Leone.
In an official letter addressed to the Council and copied to key stakeholders including the Minister of Local Government, the Human Rights Commission, the Civil Society Movement, and media outlets, Hon. Mansaray expressed concern over the continued lack of registration facilities in rural communities. He emphasized that citizens in remote areas are facing significant challenges in accessing National Identity Cards due to the centralization of registration centres in District Headquarters.
The MP recalled that months ago, he raised a Private Member Motion in Parliament that led to the summoning of the Director General of the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA). During the session, the Director General assured Parliament that registration centres would be extended to Chiefdom and Sectional levels—an assurance further reinforced by the Honourable Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Sengepoh Thomas.
Despite those assurances, Hon. Mansaray noted, no progress has been made. Registration activities remain centralized, placing an unfair burden on citizens in rural areas. “This has created significant barriers for citizens in remote Chiefdoms,” he stated, highlighting that NCRA-imposed deadlines, along with enforcement notices from the Office of National Security (ONS) and the Inspector General of Police, are forcing citizens to comply under conditions that are both inaccessible and inequitable.
The Moyamba MP urged traditional leaders to urgently convene and collectively present a strong case for the decentralization of registration centres. He stressed that many citizens cannot afford the financial or logistical demands of travelling long distances to district capitals, especially when earlier registration exercises had reached further into local communities.
“As custodians of the people’s welfare, your collective voice is critical in advocating for a more inclusive, fair and accessible registration process for all citizens, regardless of their location,” Hon. Mansaray wrote.
He expressed confidence that the involvement of the Council of Paramount Chiefs would significantly influence efforts to make the national identity registration process more equitable and representative—ensuring that no citizen is left behind.
The National Identity Card is a crucial document required for accessing public services, exercising civic rights, and ensuring national security. With growing urgency surrounding registration deadlines, the call for immediate and inclusive action has become a national priority.
