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The National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) recently convened a pivotal meeting with strategic institutions to address the identification, verification, and registration of foreign nationals residing in Sierra Leone.
The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including the Office of National Security (ONS), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Immigration Department, Sierra Leone Police, Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority, Ministry of Labour, and the National Telecommunications Authority.
Discussions centered on tackling challenges related to the registration of foreign nationals and devising strategies to streamline and harmonize the process for greater efficiency and accuracy.
Addressing the gathering, NCRA’s Director-General, Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi, underscored the significance of the initiative, citing its implications for national security, governance, and international relations. He emphasized three critical areas:
National Security: Proper identification and registration of foreign nationals are vital to maintaining national security. The process ensures that individuals entering the country are vetted and documented, reducing risks such as illegal immigration, human trafficking, and other potential threats.
Data Collection for Policy Making: Registering foreign nationals provides the government with valuable data essential for planning and policymaking. As mandated by law, NCRA must register all individuals, including citizens and non-citizens, residing in Sierra Leone.
International Relations: Accurate registration enhances international cooperation by facilitating effective collaboration on extradition, repatriation, and cross-border crime prevention, fostering stronger ties with other nations.
During the meeting, participants agreed to collaborate closely to enhance the registration process and improve the quality and accuracy of collected data. Institutions represented reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the government’s vision, facilitated by the ONS and the National Security Coordinating Group (NSCCG), to ensure the success of this critical national exercise.
The productive discussions laid a solid foundation for ongoing inter-agency collaboration, reinforcing efforts to ensure that foreign nationals in Sierra Leone are appropriately identified, verified, and registered.
This initiative is expected to bolster national security, inform policymaking, and strengthen Sierra Leone’s position on the global stage.
What is Sierra Leone talking about registering foreigners? They come to our country, no legal status to be in the country after 3 in the case of a west African, then now our government said they should be registered. No country do that. If you are illegal, you must do the right thing to get permanent resident or you stay illegal. And for some reason if you are caught, and have a criminal conduct, you should be expel from the country. We are too soft on immigration. We must value our country and make it hard for foreigners to come and compete with us in jobs and other facilities.
Look at the Lebanese taking all our store in abacha street and getting bank loans while Sierra Leoneans can’t get the same facility. Our open arms to all foreigners is putting us out of jobs. We need a strong immigration department and a firm head.