In a significant step toward consolidating democratic governance and strengthening institutional collaboration, the All Political Parties Association (APPA) held a high-level courtesy meeting with the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) on Friday, September 12, 2025, at the NCRA Headquarters in Freetown.
The dialogue, requested by APPA, centered on deepening cooperation in Civil Registration, Identity Management and election administration. It was chaired by NCRA’s Director General, Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi, and brought together APPA representatives, leaders of political parties and officials from the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC).
The engagement marks a continuation of a strong working relationship between APPA and NCRA, which had jointly undertaken public education campaigns ahead of the 2023 elections. Those initiatives, supported by Irish Aid and UNDP, raised nationwide awareness on the linkage between the Civil Register and the Voter Register.
According to the NCRA, Civil Registration is more than an electoral requirement; it is the bedrock of national development, accountability and inclusive governance. The Authority reaffirmed its commitment to working with APPA and other stakeholders to ensure citizens across Sierra Leone have access to identity services.
A key issue discussed was the challenge citizens face in obtaining National Identity Cards with unique National Identification Numbers (NINs), which are critical for accessing banking, telecommunications and other public services.
To address those concerns, the NCRA outlined decentralization strategies, including mobile registration units, district-level ID card collection points and community-led registration drives. Those initiatives, implemented in partnership with Paramount Chiefs, CSOs and Local Councils, aim to expand access, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
Another central topic was the implementation of Tripartite Committee recommendations, particularly the integration of the Civil Register into the Voter Register system for future elections. Officials emphasized that this reform would reduce costs associated with large-scale voter registration, eliminate redundancies, improve transparency and help prevent electoral fraud.
Both institutions committed to maintaining regular dialogue sessions, with structured briefings on progress in civil registration and joint public awareness campaigns through radio, town halls and community interactions.
The meeting concluded with a joint call for Government subsidies on National ID Cards to make them more affordable, especially for residents in remote communities. Both APPA and NCRA stressed that affordable access to IDs is not only a matter of service delivery but also one of equity, national dignity and inclusion.
As Sierra Leone prepares for the 2028 elections, the renewed APPA–NCRA partnership underscores a shared commitment to fortifying democratic institutions through accurate data, institutional collaboration and empowered citizenship.
“Collaborative institutional efforts cultivate trust and trust sustains democracy,” Director General Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi stated, highlighting the vital role of partnerships in strengthening Sierra Leone’s democratic future.
