Community Leaders Urge NCRA Board Chairman to Accelerate Nationwide Service Decentralization
Valentine Benjamin Conteh Community leaders and registration officers have united in calling on Sorie Fofana, Chairman of the NCRA Board, to expedite the decentralization of civil registration services across the country, aiming to make vital services more accessible at the local level.
The appeal came during Mr. Fofana’s recent district and regional tour of NCRA offices, where he held engagements with staff and local authorities. In Kono District, District Registration Officer (DRO) Daniel Matturi stressed the need for mobile teams or additional outlets in hard-to-reach chiefdoms, noting that limited mobility and manpower remain major challenges.
Similar concerns were raised by Regional Registration Officers in the East, Northeast, and Northwestern regions, who argued that citizens should not have to travel long distances sometimes from places like Buedu in Kailahun to Freetown just to correct minor errors such as spelling mistakes or mismatched names.
Local authorities in the Northeast and Northwestern regions also pressed for decentralization down to the chiefdom level, saying it would reduce the burden on citizens and improve access to essential services.
Responding, Chairman Fofana acknowledged the concerns and assured communities that the Board and senior management would work to address what he described as “low-hanging fruits.” He commended NCRA staff, mobile teams, and volunteers for their commitment despite difficult working conditions, adding that staff welfare remains a priority for the institution’s leadership.