Issuance of the long awaited new national Identification (ID) card will commence by the end of the year, according to the Director General of the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), Mohamed Massaquoi.
The NCRA boss, who was speaking to Politico in an interview on Wednesday, following growing public concern over the non-availability of the document, explained that the process of producing them is on course. He entreated the public to exercise patience, saying that government resources were being used as his office continues the exercise of confirming and inputting the personal information of the registered persons. He said the Authority has been following due diligence by putting together data that is guided by law, and that is in conformity with international regulations by bodies such as ECOWAS and the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO).
Massaquoi pointed out that NCRA has been working hard to produce quality multi-purpose ID cards bearing all the specifications, in line with United Nations legal identity systems.
On complaints by the public about the prolonged delay experienced in acquiring an ID card from the NCRA’s Walpole Street office in Freetown, Massaquoi disclosed that their desire was to have the whole process decentralized, noting that work is at an advanced stage to establish regional offices, from where people can access their document, and which will ease the pressure on the Freetown office and provide the opportunity for people upcountry to easily access their cards.
The NCRA boss also revealed that the Authority has so far captured 5.2 million people, both foreign and local, in their data and that they hope to produce ECOWAS ID cards, which can be used for travel in all countries in the bloc. Massaquoi said the document would prevent people from being discriminated against whilst moving across borders. He however stated that the ECOWAS ID card would be produced only upon personal request.
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