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Chief Justice Deploys 26 Judges To Review 1,013 Cases In S/L

Judiciary of Sierra Leone.jpg

Elkass Sannoh

The Judiciary of Sierra Leone in a statement issued on the 28th January 2022 said it wishes to inform the general public that it will hold a nationwide, Access to Justice Through Judicial Week scheduled to commence on the 31st January 2022  and will last up to  the 4th February 2022 with the  aim of increasing access to justice and decongest Correctional Centres across the country.

According to the Information Wing of the Judiciary, the Access to Justice Through a Judicial Week is one of the initiatives of the current administration provided by the Honourable Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards,  to enhance access to justice and to further decongest correctional centers by ensuring that inmates/accused persons or some convicted persons have the opportunity to be heard and have their cases reviewed by specific Judges deployed across the country by the Honourable Chief Justice.

Following a stakeholders meeting involving the Judiciary, Sierra Leone Correctional Centers, Legal Aid Board, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Sierra Leone Police, it was discovered that a good number of inmates had issues bothering on access to Justice.

Out of a total number of one thousand and thirteen (1,013), 111 of these inmates had been incarcerated awaiting trial without indictments; 138 on prolonged adjournments due to lack of empanelled jurors, 181 on bail but unable to fulfill their bail conditions to secure their release, 47 were serving unjustifiable and disproportionate sentences from Magistrates with no Summary Review application in their favour and 532 were incarcerated with no admission to bail for possible bail-able offences.

The Judiciary maintains that as a means of addressing those issues, 26 Judges will be deployed across the country further revealing that during the Judicial Week, a total of 1,013 inmates would be given the opportunity to have their incarcerations reviewed in Prison Courts holden outside the Correctional facilities and those without indictments been given opportunity for their cases to be dealt with expeditiously or as the justice of case may require.

Pursuant to the above, the Judiciary added, there will be one-week recess across the country where all other Court matters will not be heard except for those matters to be dealt with during the Judicial Week.

In effect, as stated by the Judiciary, no Court sitting will take place because the Judges will be using all the Courts across the country to expedite the process in a transparent manner.

Antonio Rudiger Launches Educational Foundation to Support Sports Literacy

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By Amin Kef Sesay

Antonio Rudiger, the renowned Chelsea defender launched an Educational Foundation on the 27th January 2022 to support sports literacy in Sierra Leone.

The 28 years old footballer arrived in the country during the Premier League’s international break.

“It’s a huge pleasure for me and my family to be here, I don’t see myself as a superstar because my parents always tell me to be humble — that’s why I’m here today,” Rudiger said.

“To me this Foundation means a lot, because I don’t want it to be a one-man show, I want it to be something we all — most importantly the young generation and the community — can look up to,” he added.

Berlin-born Rudiger, who has 49 caps for Germany, shared a clip on his Twitter account earlier in the week with the caption: “I’m speechless — these people are crazy.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this overwhelming welcome, Sierra Leone. God bless you all.”

Since his arrival he has watched the Sierra Leone Amputee Football Club play, prompting the star to say “life is not about hope it’s about the faith in realising your dreams on your own”.

He has often spoken out against racism in the sport, most notably after a match against Tottenham in February 2020.

In 2021, he wrote a piece for The Players’ Tribune, entitled “This Article Will Not Solve Racism in Football”.

During the announcement he was flanked by his mother and brothers as they sang a Christian song, “My God I’m very grateful for what you have done for me”, to applause.

The ceremony concluded with a $40,000 (36,000 euros) pledge by Rudiger and an auction for his autographed No. 2 Chelsea jersey which sold to a fan for $2,000.

Disbursing Le660M…. Chengli Mining Company Pays Third Surface Rent to 2 Chiefdoms in Koinadugu District

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By Amin Kef Sesay

Chengli Mining Company, a company that is engaged in the mining of gold, has on the 28th January 2022 paid the sum of Six Hundred and Sixty Million Leones (Le660M) as Surface Rent by Chengli to Diang and Sambaya chiefdoms within the Koinadugu District, Northern Sierra Leone in line with Mines and Minerals Act of the country. It marked the third payment of surface rent paid by the company to the two chiefdoms.

Handing over the Cheques to the land owners, the Country Director of Chengli Mining Company SL, Fassally Tawarally, stated that the company will always adhere to the laws and regulations governing the country’s mining sector in the country, build the capacities of residents in the communities the company is operating and open up new opportunities of livelihoods especially for young people.

He furthered that as a large-scale mining license holder, they are required by law to put 0.01% of their proceeds into community development.

“In addition to that obligation, the company has pledged to provide water facilities for the two chiefdoms and commence the rolling out of a Five Hundred Million Leones Project meant for the construction of   Chiefdom Court Barays, increase the number of scholarships to be awarded to deserving pupils as well as students residing in the mining communities and to continue the payment of the salaries of teachers,” he underscored.

Fassaly also stated that the surface rent was paid for acres of land that the company is utilizing in its mining operations and the beneficiaries in terms of percentages will be the Chiefdom Councils and other stakeholders within the two communities.

On his part, the Paramount Chief of Diang Chiefdom, Sheku Magba 111, disclosed how Cheng Li Mining Company paved their roads, awarded scholarships to over one hundred indigenous children, provided teaching and school learning materials to five hundred children as well paid the salaries of teachers, facilitated the installation of telecommunications network coverage, provided employment for hundreds of locals within the chiefdom and donated football gears.

Residents of Diang and Sambaya chiefdoms expressed gratitude over the payment of the surface rent also commending Cheng Li Mining Company for its various development interventions which they attested has somehow improved their lives.

They further testified that even before the commencement of operations by Chengli Mining Company they had already started benefiting from numerous developmental projects brought about by the company during its exploration stage.

The Community Liaison Officer of the National Minerals Agency (NMA), Henry Kamara, reaffirmed Government’s commitment to create the enabling environment for private sector investments to thrive. He called on residents to work with the company for the benefit of both the district and the company.

It could be recalled that since the 1930s when mining started in Diang Chiefdom within the Koinadugu district, no tangible and meaningful impact was created on the community in terms of development. However, many have attested that in two years, with the operations of Cheng Li Mining Company many development success stories could now be told.

GIC is a legal Entity that Operates a Viable Loan Scheme

Globalrisk Insurance Company (GIC) - SL Ltd.jpg

By Theresa Kef Sesay

Globalrisk Insurance Company (GIC) – SL Ltd, one of the leading insurance companies in the country has been highly rated for it strict adherence to its policies with customers nationwide. During investigations conducted by this medium it came out clearly that the business entity is legally operating according to laid down statutory policies.

Against the backdrop of bad Press against the insurance company this medium galvanized the mounting of detailed investigation during which it was revealed that GIC is a duly incorporated limited liability company registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and certified by the Sierra Leone Insurance Commission (SLIC) to carry out its insurance businesses.

Globalrisk Insurance Company offers life insurance products which include: the ‘Gentri’ Assurance Plan, Guaranteed Education Assurance Plan among others. It was indicated that the primary objective of the ‘Gentri’ Assurance Plan is to ensure that the policyholder lives a good life by affording a loan facility to the customers to acquire basic household assets, save for the future, as well as providing benefits for dependants in the event death of the customer. With the Guaranteed Education Assurance Plan it helps customers save towards the future education of their children, as well as providing yearly financial support to the child upto 18 years in the event that the customer dies before then.

What again emerged from the investigation was that the customer base of the company keeps increasing countrywide having customers in both private and public institutions across the nation.

With regards the company’s loan scheme it is in full operation with the commencement of the granting of loans over a year ago to its customers and so far it on record that the company has disbursed over Five Hundred Million Leones (Le 500, 000,000) to its customers nationwide.

One of the customers of the GIC, Mohamed Konteh disclosed to this medium that there is qualifying period for customers to benefit from the company’s loan scheme which, according to him, is 12 months for a fully paid up customer.

He continued that an interested individual must send in a formal application to the company for a loan. After that stage all duly instituted processes would be followed in order to meet due diligence for the loan to be granted.

Records of the company show those who have benefitted from the loan scheme and benefits paid to families of deceased customers nationwide.

This medium was reliably informed by the Management of the company that it was disturbing to learn from some unscrupulous persons that the loan scheme is fictitious.

He explained that one of their volunteers , Michael James,  who is a marketer misinformed some members of the public about the company’s products, especially its loan scheme but stated that he is gratified that after a thorough sensitization many of the company’s customers now know the processes to follow in order to qualify for a loan.

A teacher by the name of Salamatu Lamin stated that after visiting the company’s headquarters on No. 2 Wellington Street in Freetown she was properly informed about the GIC loan policy. She intimated that some of her colleagues were about to withdraw from the Insurance Company due to the marketer’s misinformation but after confirming that the loans are granted upon completion  of a one year period criteria they were all satisfied.

Chief Executive Officer of the company, Paul Oparah stated assured that the company is poised to improve the lives of their customers and help them and their families live comfortable lifestyles.

He furthered how Government alone cannot improve standards of living. Paul encouraged others in the private sector to design services that will uplift the standard of life of the vast majority.

Paul concluded by stating that GIC as an institution is doggedly bent on improving the lives of all Sierra Leoneans that are eligible to take any of their policies.

Indian High Commissioner Takes Leave of Sierra Leone after End of Tour of Duty

Indian High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Rakesh Kumar Arora.jpg

By Amin Kef Sesay

The Indian High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Rakesh Kumar Arora, on the 28th January 2022 called on His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio to bid farewell after the end of his tour of duty in the country, praising the many steps the Government has taken to develop the country.

Rakesh Kumar Arora, a career diplomat who belongs to the Indian Foreign Service, assumed charge as the first Resident High Commissioner of India to Sierra Leone on 28 August 2020.

During a short statement, he thanked the President for his exemplary leadership in transforming a country that returned from a devastating rebel war, Ebola, mudslide, and grappling with the corona virus disease that continues to ravage people and economies of the world. He added that those steps signaled prospects for the country.

“Your Excellency, I am very happy to have worked in Sierra Leone. I wish the country all the best in the years ahead,” he concluded.

In his response, His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio thanked the outgoing Indian High Commissioner for his service to the country, saying that Sierra Leone and India had a long-standing bilateral relationship.

He noted that High Commissioner Rakesh Kumar Arora was opportune to establish and be the first resident High Commissioner of India to Sierra Leone.

He further stated that there were quite a lot the country had benefited from the bilateral relationship, and that the two countries would continue to deepen and widen the scope of their relationship.

“I am happy that you are going with fond memories of this country. We will always remember you. Thank you for your service. I wish you well in your future endeavor,” he concluded.

NP-SL: A Dependable Provider of High Grade Petroleum Products

National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited, NP (SL-Ltd).

By Amin kef Sesay

The National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited, NP (SL-Ltd) is tirelessly working round the clock, engaging oil producing companies in business discussions, to always ensure that high grade petroleum products are continually flowing in for onward marketing. This pro-activeness, on the part of the company, has made it quite possible for stocks to last over periods of time in order to avert the occurrence of shortages.

Interestingly, NP-SL is not a Government entity or appendage; no politician has a share in it as its shareholders are mere ordinary Sierra Leoneans, starting with 35 of them who some time ago bought shares from the Government out of their end of service benefits to establish what today has become a towering entity (NP-SL) to reckon with in the business landscape.

As had been fallaciously propagated by certain ill-motivated persons, who do not mean well for this country, that there are certain politicians that have vested interests in the company, our investigations have proven otherwise.

NP-SL is a 100% indigenous company to the letter and it has weathered various storms that could have dwarfed it or left it to extinct save therapeutic intermittent Managerial injections that keep it upright and on the right course.

Demonstrating its true Sierra Leonean identity the company has maintained a policy of strictly adhering to the Local Content Policy ensuring that it has a maximum indigenous staff in its employ. What this actually means is empowering our brothers and sisters to access employment opportunities and reduce poverty.

As a matter of fact some of its members continue to benefit from various trainings that have afforded them the conduit to imbibe useful skills to efficiently carry out certain tasks. If we are counting the number of companies that have upheld the Local Content Policy, without any iota of doubt, NP-SL could be seen at the top.

This intrinsic nationalistic posture of the company runs through and it is a sine qua non to overall national development. If such a compliance rate should have been followed by other local companies, willingly, without any pressure from the relevant authorities then indisputably this country should have been miles away in its development trajectory.

Business Management experts have made it abundantly clear that the way and manner in which customers are cared for in terms of talking to them, making them feel at ease go a long way in attracting them. Such should be done sincerely in order to make them more important. NP-SL for a very long period now has mastered that art and executing it so well which definitely is paying dividends.

1st for Customer Care was earned by the company because it has been widely acclaimed by many for solidly executing such.

In its drive to optimize customer satisfaction the company went the extra mile to install calibrated pumping machines which are not only modern but trustworthy, as opposed to old pumping machines which certain unscrupulous individuals used to cheat unassuming customers.

This is helping to repose confidence in customers that they are dealing with a very transparent entity. The friendliness of their pump attendants is very impressive and they are always there to timely respond to various concerns.

Still within the purview of 1st for Customer Care, the company is always in position to enter into payment plans with its reliable and dependable customers including Ministries, Departments and Agencies for supplied fuel and lubricants as long as all the necessary modalities have been put in place.

When cognizance is taken of the fact that some of these institutions receive intermittent budgetary allocations then such an arrangement is very significant. Its significance in real terms borders on functional continuity of those institutions as they will be assured of supplies of petroleum products in as much as they keep honoring their obligations.

For those who have not tried NP Gas for the first time it is now time to give it a try. Designed in sizable varying cylinders and sold at various NP Filling Stations, this cooking device has been rated as one of the best that is on offer for sale. NP Gas is safe, user friendly and portable. Trying it will spur you to recommend it to others.

NP Smart Card is now in vogue and is one of the latest technological devices used to purchase petroleum products. Using it has attendant advantages as evident in procuring fuel at any time of the day even during times when monies could not be accessed from banks. It is secured, easy to use and very quick. It is now trending.

To crystallize proposed projects into tangible realities on the ground, Government needs the required financial resources to effectively do so and one sure way is from collection of taxes which is the mandate of the National Revenue Authority (NRA).  NP is one big tax payer to Government and it has been doing so timely.

NP-SL remains undaunted, unperturbed amidst all the challenges it is going through and conscientiously it is steadily contributing to the socio-economic development of the country as well as  positively changing communities and lives.

To Chart the Way Forward… Civil & Peace Service Reflects 20 Years down the Line on Sierra Leone’s Civil War

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By Millicent Senava Mannah

One of the Civil Society Organizations operating in the country, the Civil and Peace Service, has on the 28th January 2022, convened a Press Conference geared towards reflecting on the twenty years of peace after the civil conflict in Sierra Leone alongside what they and their peace partners have been doing, the hallmarks they have made as a civil peace network and how they can bring new ideas onboard that will be rolled out together with their partners and beneficiaries. The Press Conference took place at the Kona Lodge on King Street in the West End of Freetown.

National Coordinator of Bread for the World/ Civil Peace Service, Adenike Cole, explained how as a peace awareness sharing entity they are reflecting on the journey of attaining peace taking into consideration, alongside their donors and partner organizations the post-war 20 years period since the end of the prolonged civil conflict.

She disclosed that the war lasted for 11 years and was declared over on the 18th January, 2002 underscoring how, as a Civil Society Organization, they are looking at related issues bordering on human rights as a way of taking into account the very issues that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) highlighted as causes that ignited the bloody and protracted war.

Madam Adenike highlighted injustice, corruption, inequality and lack of human rights among others as some of the overarching causes of the war.

“Few recommendations were made to tackle those debilitating issues which are protection of human rights, promoting good governance and addressing issues that are pertinent to women and girls.” Madam Adenike said.

“I am amplifying the voice of the Chairman of Amputees and War Wounded, Mohamed Tarawalie, whose concerns are to set a day aside to commemorate the end of the war in Sierra Leone, to help people with disability to become people of ability and provide funds for their children to benefit from scholarships up to university level,” she stated.

She noted that, as a Peace Network, they will enhance their peace education drive targeting the populace as a means of promoting and making the ordinary person enjoy justice and as well advocate for the separation of the Ministry of Justice from that of the Attorney General’s Office.

The Focal Person of the Civil Peace Service Network, Ibrahim A. Conteh, who is also a representative from an organization known as Future in our Hands, explained that their organization is engaged in various community activities and in highlighting issues relating to the future development of children and the youth.

He furthered that they have also been participating on issues related to peace in the country revealing how they embarked on a peace tournament with the avowed aim of reconciling families and availing skills training opportunities that are meant for engaging the minds of young people in various districts within the country.

Discussions during the Press engagement also bordered around the processes of land acquisition in the country with majority recommending that it should be done in legal ways as in the past human rights have been violated and some even killed in land disputes.

A question and answer session climaxed the briefing after salient contributions on the importance of maintaining and consolidating peace in the country.

Deputy Transport Minister Unveils the Motor Vehicle Dealers Union

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By Mary Kabay

The Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation, Rex Bhonapha has on the 28th January 2022 launched the Motor Vehicle Dealers Union -Sierra Leone during an auspicious ceremony that was held at the YWCA Hall in the West End of Freetown. The Union comprises dealers of vehicles from different parts across the country.

Present during the launch were the Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation, Rex Bhonapha, Deputy Minister of Political and Public Affairs, Amara Kallon, the Deputy Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA), James Baggie Bio, the Head of the CID, vehicle dealers from various parts of the country, well wishers and members of the Press.

President of the Motor Vehicle Dealers Union, Moses Kanu, in his open remarks, expressed delight for bringing together and working alongside all car dealers across the country further underscoring that the primary objective of setting up the Union is geared towards enhancing the welfare of its members as well as provide protection for them during critical times added to working with the Sierra Leone Police Force to make sure that the right things related to their trade are done within the ambit of the law.

Deputy Minister of Transport, Rex Bhonapha, in his keynote address, stated how the occasion will go down the annals of history as a memorable one.

He expressed appreciation over the ability and determination of vehicle dealers to   organize themselves to form a very formidable entity that will be the umbrella body to champion the interests and concerns of vehicle dealers in the country. He laid emphasis on the Union members being watchdogs in society and to speak out against anything which they believe is not right.

“The Union should not only be limited to ‘You touch one, You touch all’ but rather to make it become a sustainable entity that will contribute meaningfully to overall development and stand the test of time,” he admonished.

He pledge his support to the Union reminding its members to be united saying there is strengthen in unity.

The Deputy Transport Minister further cautioned the leaders or Executive members of the Union to serve their subjects with humility and honesty and at the same time advised the ordinary members to give their unflinching loyalty and support to the Executive members maintaining that it is only by strengthening that symbiotic relationship that they can succeed in fulfilling or achieving their aims and objections.

Rex Bhonapha also advised the Union members to retain the services of a Lawyer who will be of help to them in interpreting issues bordering on legality as well as have in place an independent electoral body that will be in charge of conducting periodic free and fair elections.

A representative from the Sierra Leone Police Force dilated on the roles and responsibility of the Police with regards dealing with traffic issues referencing the 2007 Road Traffic Act and the 2011 Traffic Regulations which, according to him provide guidelines on how car dealers must operate in the country.

Also referencing the Motto of the Union, which is Trust, Unity & Progress, he challenged the members that if they strictly adhere to it then they will witness positive changes in their endeavours.

Other speakers made salient contributions.

The official launching of the Motor Vehicle Dealers Union was done by the Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation, Rex Bhonapha, followed by the taking of group photos.

A Social Commentator intimated that the formation of the Union was a step in the right direction considering the growing number of car dealers in the country. He justified that such is necessary in order to distinguish between fraudsters and the real vehicle dealers.

Olinda Ceylon Black Tea – Drink to Live Well Naturally!

Olinda Ceylon Black Tea

By Esther Wright

Olinda Ceylon Black Tea (100 Tea Bags) is keeping with the distinctive grandeur of Olinda. Tea tasters have crafted a variety of well balanced teas with color, aroma and distinct taste to help you Live well and naturally.

With each sip, Olinda Ceylon Black Tea (100 Tea Bags) will transform and enrich lives in many ways. Olinda Teas is easy to understand, whilst blending it perfectly with your day and lifestyle keeps you happy, energized, and healthy.

From famed regions, Olinda Ceylon Black Tea (100 Tea Bags) has been hand-picked with love and care.  These teas are like no other in the world. Olinda believes in picking the best natural ingredients to create a tea that benefits your health to help you live naturally.

Net weight is 200g and contains: 2g per tea bag x 100 tea bags in a pack.

Contact Emkay Store SL LTD , the Sole distributor of Olinda Ceylon Black Tea, Nutribom Infant Cereal and many products which include: Nurtilac, Nutrilon and H&H infant formulas (corn milk and cereal for infants), confectioneries (inclusive of items for children’s birthday parties), rice, Olinda (pure Ceylon tea, green. tea and slim tea), Flavoured tea – ginger etc.

For wholesale or retail contact Emkay Store SL LTD at 12 Sani Abacha Street Freetown, Sierra Leone or call +23288 604-402.

NCRA Launches Securitized Legal Identity Documents

Securitized Legal Identity Documents

By Foday Moriba Conteh

In a bid to further strengthen the Integrated Civil Registration System in the country, the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) on Friday 28th January, 2022 launched the use of a Securitized Legal Identity Documents which will record occurrences and characteristics of Vital Events related to citizens and other residents as provided for and in accordance with the NCR Act of 2016. The official launch took place at the Aberdeen Women’s Centre at Aberdeen in Freetown.

The Securitized Legal Identity Documents that were launched will record occurrences like Birth, Death, Marriage, Divorce and Adoption Certificates principally moving away from paper based to electronic recording of these events.

Speaking during the launch, the Director General of the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi, noted that the launch of the Securitized Legal Identity Documents is a huge step in furtherance of the execution of the legal mandate of the National Civil Registration Authority, adding that their mandate involves the registration of Vital Events and the issuance of Legal Identity Credentials/documents as well as the establishment and maintenance of a Civil Register on these Vital Events occurring in the lives of Citizens and non-Citizens resident in the country.

He revealed that the United Nations defines Legal identity as the basic characteristics of an individual’s identity conferred through registration and the issuance of a certificate by an authorized civil registration authority following the occurrence of an event and that Legal Identity and Identity Credentials are Human Rights enshrined in Article 6 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights as well as several other International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law instruments that guarantee the undeniable recognition of everyone before the law.

The Director General pointed out that the NCRA and by extension the Government of Sierra Leone, in a bid to further strengthen the Integrated Civil Registration System now introduces the use of Securitized Legal Identity Documents which will record occurrences and characteristics of Vital Events related to its citizens and other residents as provided for and in accordance with the NCRA Act of 2016.

Underscoring the advantages of using Securitized Legal Identity Documents he said that the system itself, the Certificates issued and the data collected from citizens and non-citizens in Sierra Leone are all highly secured with latest technologies and standards in line with International best practices.

“We are confident that this will ensure sanity, credibility and integrity of our Legal Identity Ecosystem with the collective efforts of combating identity fraud and other menace associated with identity in our country,” he expressed optimism.

Mohamed Massaquoi concluded by acknowledging and appreciating UNICEF, the UN General Assembly for the support provided to NCRA including but not limited to the development and production of the Securitized Legal Identity Documents.

On her part, the Child Protection Specialist at UNICEF, Nassal Millicent Kebbie, said that one of the mandates of UNICEF is protecting children’s rights and that UNICEF has been partnering with NCRA to ensure that birth registration is integrated into the civil registration and vital statistics system in the country.

She added that they have been in this partnership with NCRA for a long time as birth registration is key because it is the first step to an individual been identified as a human being.

Nassal Millicent Kebbie reiterated UNICEF’s continued support in order to ensure that all children given birth to within the confines of country are registered and issued birth certificates, furthering that through their partnership they have developed a birth registration procedure manual to help actors to know how to register these children and to also give these actors the capacity to be in the right place in order to provide the services needed across the country.

Giving the keynote address, on behalf of the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Permanent Secretary of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mohamed S. Kargbo said that the launch of the Securitized Legal Identity Documents will certainly find its way into the annals of the history of civil registration in Sierra Leone, adding that the Ministry of Internal Affairs been the supervising Ministry for the NCRA, and that they always feel obliged and proud to lend their support to the Authority in order to deliver on its mandate.

“I am here to launch the securitized legal identity documents. This is a novelty! This is the first time as a nation to navigate through such a path. It is clearly a laudable effort,” he revealed.

He said Civil Registration and Identity Management are important areas in the global security domain as secured identity management gains more significance due to perverted economic gains from identity theft and fraud.

Mohamed S. Kargbo pointed out that in Sierra Leone, due to the prominence of the right to National Identity as enshrined in the 1991 Constitution and as a result of the political  will to support Civil Registration and Identity Management, the strides being made by the National Civil Registration Authority, an Authority under the supervision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs have been laudable so far.

The event was climaxed by the official launching of the Securitized Legal Identity Documents by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Mohamed S. Kargbo followed by the presentation of the first securitized birth certificate to the first child who was registered at the event by the Director General of the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi.

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