By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
The National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) has warned citizens to stop presenting fake identity documents including birth certificates and NCRA citizenship certificates to register for the upcoming elections.
The documents allegedly being falsified are those required by the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) for someone to be eligible to register.
A notice issued by NCRA said they have engaged ECSL on attempts being made by some people to use fake documents to go through the registration exercise.
NCRA in the notice expressed its commitment to support ECSL with the verification of identity certificates supporting to have originated from them.
It informed the public that they will continue to verify identity certificates that are presented to them either for voter registration or other purposes using their Identity Management System (IDMS) which holds records of citizens and other residents.
NCRA asserted its readiness to inform either the electoral commission or any other institution that would be soliciting the outcome of document verification for appropriate action to be taken. It went on to say that, it will track anyone that may want to manipulate personal identification records that cover all age brackets.
It also stated that it is a criminal offence to give false or misleading information for registration purposes, quoting sections of the NCRA Act of 2016.
NCRA is responsible for the continuous, permanent, and compulsory recording of occurrences and characteristics of vital events including births, deaths, marriages, divorces, nullities, and adoptions.
It was enacted by an Act of Parliament on the 30th of June 2016 to pave the way for the establishment of the Authority and the undertaking of all Civil Registrations in Sierra Leone.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online
