(FREETOWN, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019)- The Government of Sierra Leone through the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) has today joined other member States of the United Nations and other African Governments to commemorate the Second Africa Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Day. The Commemoration was concurrently done with the official launch of the Authority’s CRVS and ID Management Strategic Plan 2019-2024 and the CRVS Country Assessment Report at the Miatta Conference Center. The theme for this year's celebration is “Birth Certificates for all: Fundamental for Protecting Human Rights and Promoting Inclusion”
The commemoration was chaired by the Chief Minister Professor David Francis and was graced by the Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Hon. Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh; the Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. Edward Suluku and other Government Ministers; Heads of MDAs'; Paramount Chiefs, International and Local development partners; civil society organizations and other dignitaries.
The CRVS Day is celebrated on the 10th of August every year. This date was declared in December 2017 by the Conference of African Ministers responsible for CRVS in Mauritania to celebrate the continuous, compulsory, permanent and universal recording of births, deaths, adoptions, legitimation, marriages, nullities and the issuance of ID cards.
The Director- General of NCRA, Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi provided a report on the current state of CRVS and ID Management in Sierra Leone. He thanked the Government of Sierra Leone and other Development partners for providing financial and technical support to the NCRA. “On behalf of Management and staff of NCRA, I want to say I am very much grateful to the government of Sierra Leone and its development partners for the support they have given me thus far “he said.
Other speakers included the Minister of Internal Affairs Edward Suluku, the Deputy Minister of Finance Dr. Patricia Nyanga Laverley, the Chairmen of Paramount Chiefs and local Council Hon. P.C Sheku A.T Fasuluku Sonsiama III, and Mr. Joseph Munda Bindi, respectively, the Chief Medical Officer Dr. Amara Jambai, the Statistician-General Prof. Osman A. Sankoh. The UNDP Country Representative Dr. Samuel Doe and the Head of the European Union Tom Vens, made valuable contributions and pledged their continued support to CRVS and ID Management system.
Speaking on the importance of this year’s theme, the UNDP Representative, Dr. Samuel Doe, admonished each and every Sierra Leone to have a birth certificate. Noting that, it is one of the fundamental instruments that guaranteed the legal status of an individual in every country. He assured the Director- General of UNDP’s continued support towards the improvement of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics and ID Management.
The Good-will message was delivered by Oliver J.M. Chinganya, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) representative.
The Keynote speech was delivered by the Vice President of Sierra Leone, Hon. Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh who also officially launched the Civil Registration and ID Management Country Assessment Report and the costed five-year Strategic Plan (2019-2024).
The vote of thanks was given by the Deputy Director-General of the NCRA, Mr. John Godswill Lavalie.
Attendees at the ceremony came from all works of life in the country.
© IEC DIRECTORATE - NCRA