By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
As part of their key deliverables for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) is set to upgrade the Civil Registration Database and Network Infrastructure to share data with priority institutions using the Data sharing Layer.
The priority institutions to share data with are; the Human Resource Management Office (HRMO), National Revenue Authority (NRA), Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS), Education, Financial Institutions. NASSIT and Immigration.
NCRA’s Director- General shared the information whilst presenting the institution’s budget allocation for FY 2024 at the Ministry of Finance Conference room on the 13th October, 2023.
Mohamed M. Massaquoi noted that if the budget presented is allocated to them, they will decentralize the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) services and establish permanent registration centres in Chiefdoms and Wards.
He said that the Authority will maintain and update the Civil Registration Portal for E-Services and strengthen reliable vital statistics systems like births, deaths, cause of deaths including maternal and infant mortality reporting.
He stated that they will continue to print and distribute ECOWAS/ICAO compliant Securitized Biometric Cards, national ID cards and other Identity Documentation/ Certificates. He added that they will continue with the enhancement and popularization of the reviewed NCRA Act and Data Protection Act and Regulation.
For their 2023 deliverables, the Director General said they have ensured that the acquisition of ID Cards is decentralized across all 16 administrative districts.
Notwithstanding the achievements the authority has made over the years so far, he stated that they are challenged with securitized births and deaths registration systems not rolled out in the provinces. He also said that they are challenged with inadequate support towards ID Management services resulting in low registration of vital events especially deaths.
Massaquoi recommended the provision of Cyber Security systems and tools to protect the NCRA data and systems and to construct a Disaster Recovery Site (DRS) to ensure business continuity. He also called for support to roll out the new securitized births and deaths registration systems to other parts of the provinces.
He also called for increased support to cover services for internet, electricity/ solar power for 1,500 (one thousand, five hundred) Health facilities nationwide..
At the end of the presentation, the Director General submitted a budget estimate of NLE 56,647,050 (fifty six million, six hundred and forty seven thousand and fifty New Leones).
The National Civil Registration Authority was established by the National Civil Registration Act 2016 to provide for the continuous, universal, permanent and compulsory recording of the occurrence and characteristics of vital events including live birth, death, marriage of citizens and residents throughout Sierra Leone for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a permanent Civil Register of vital events.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (16/10/23)
