As staff of the National Civil Registration Authority and Donor partners/Consultants gathered at the Sierra Palms Beach Resort in Freetown on April 2, 2025, to begin a critical internal review of its Strategic Plan (2019-2024), I sat there not only contributing but also looking back at the institution’s outstanding performances over the past five years. This, to my knowledge, was the first time since its establishment, the institution had had its first real road map, guiding its services to the Sierra Leonean populace. What happened five years ago was the outcome of what gathered us together, a little over five years later, and this event would only prepare the ground for an aspirational future when the Vision 2030 Strategic Plan (2025–2030) is unveiled. These achievements would not have been made possible without a Vision, and Visions are never seen out without a Leader, who possesses one himself. Since his appointment in July 2018, Mr. Mohamed Mubashir MASSAQUOI has guided this transforming journey to turn a once-struggling institution into a model of excellence and to garner respect both locally and internationally. Five Sierra Leoneans have every cause to be appreciative of a leader whose strategic foresight, cooperative attitude, and relentless dedication have put the NCRA and the country on a road toward long-term prosperity, and more so, be thankful to His Excellency the President for having the foresight to install him to take on this once labeled – “difficult and near impossible task.”
The NCRA from Modest Beginnings to a Global Benchmark
transform. The NCRA struggled greatly when Mr. MASSAQUOI took over in 2018. There are few of us with firsthand experience of these struggles. A disjointed system, a disorganized database, and a lack of confidence in Civil Registration procedures. If there is a pillar to rely on for national growth, it was, it is, and always will be the Civil Registration system, which was at the time, in disarray. All these compromised access to services and hindered Sierra Leone’s advance towards an inclusive government and development. Understanding the need for reform, Mr. MASSAQUOI led the creation of the first-ever Strategic Plan (2019–2024), a bold blueprint meant to unite disparate systems, digitize records, and rebuild public confidence. But this was no little task! It calls not only for technical knowledge but also for an amazing capacity for inspiration, unity, and execution.
The NCRA has transformed under his care. From healthcare and education to financial inclusion and voting rights, the introduction of securitized legal identity documents, the digitization of records going back to 1900, and the biometric digital identification platform has transformed how Sierra Leoneans access services. DG MASSAQUOI’s leadership guarantees that the NCRA is no more only a bureaucratic institution but a vital artery of Sierra Leone’s development in line with global standards including the UN’s Legal Identity Agenda and Sustainable Development Goal 16.9, which demands legal identity for all.
The numbers clearly show the success of the 2019–2024 Strategic Plan: a 7% rise in birth registrations between 2019 and 2020 despite the COVID-19 epidemic, a cleaned-up government payroll removing ghost workers, and alliances with international behemoths like MOSIP and Kiva to release Africa’s first blockchain-based national digital identity platform. These successes are more than just numbers; they are evidence of Mr. MASSAQUOI’s capacity to turn vision into action, to transforming the NCRA from a low point into an institution of envy.
A Leader Appreciated by Fellow Workers
Under the direction of consultants Ms. Anette Forsingdal and Ms. Violet Kinuthia, whose interviews highlight Massaquoi’s extraordinary leadership, the recent assessment launch combined local and international expertise. Global authority on CRVS systems, Ms. Forsingdal praised his “unwavering commitment to excellence and his ability to foster collaboration across sectors.” She said that a strong CRVS system has been created in great part by his inclusive approach, involving local stakeholders, development partners, and government agencies. This was also echoed by Ms. Kinuthia, who attributed him with raising the institution’s credibility and reiterated a view that many others hold. These honours show a leader who has won supporters by performance, not only by flattery. MASSAQUOI’s cooperative attitude has created alliances with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), UNICEF, the European Union, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the World Bank, among a host of others. He distinguishes himself as a leader of rare quality in his ability to negotiate difficult international settings while maintaining Sierra Leone’s particular needs priority.
Vision 2030: An Inheritable Legacy
The publication of the Strategic Plan assessment did not mark the destination but rather a starting point for Vision 2030 – a five-year road map meant to firmly establish Sierra Leone’s leadership in Civil Registration and Identity Management Systems. The next phase looks to improve operational efficiency, increase digital infrastructure, and guarantee that every Sierra Leonean citizen or non-citizen resident is counted under a world-class system.
Building on Mr. Massaquoi’s first strategic plan, Vision 2030 seeks to incorporate advanced technologies, enhance data security, and match Sierra Leone’s national development goals. Promising to underlie economic growth, social equity, and good governance qualities of a modern state, this vision transcends the NCRA. That MASSAQUOI is spearheading this project reveals a great deal about his forward-looking leadership and his capacity to foresee the needs of a society fast changing.
Why Sierra Leoneans Should Appreciate and Trust His Leadership
For several reasons, Sierra Leoneans owe Mr. MASSAQUOI a debt of thanks. First, his leadership has rebuilt confidence in a once ineffective institution, enabling Civil Registration as a right and reality for millions of people. Second, Sierra Leone’s global perspective has positioned the country as a leader in digital identity, garnering respect on the worldwide scene. Third, his cooperative approach has brought together the government, business sector, and international partners in a common goal to demonstrate that development is a team effort.
MASSAQUOI distinguishes himself with his human-centred leadership as much as his technical ability. Civil Registration is about dignity, identity, and opportunity, he knows, not only documentation. His relentless campaigning for underprivileged groups like rural women and children under five guarantees that the NCRA serves every Sierra Leonean, not only the privileged few. Rare is this combination of strategic genius and empathy; thus, he is an ideal leader for the demands of our day.
An Evolutionary Model for the Future
Mohamed Mubashir MASSAQUOI is a lighthouse of what is possible when the correct person is in the correct role, as the NCRA sets out Vision 2030. From 2018, his path is a masterclass in leadership: turning a failing institution into a powerhouse of credibility, creativity, and service delivery. Sierra Leoneans ought to be proud of a leader whose efforts not only guarantee the future but also enhance the present. Under MASSAQUOI’s direction, the NCRA is not only a reflection of others but rather, it is a legacy that will resound across generations, demonstrating how capable leadership can transform the course of a country.
Leave a Reply