𝐍𝐂𝐑𝐀 𝐃𝐆 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐎𝐧 𝐂𝐕𝐑𝐒

The Director General of NCRA (National Civil Registration Authority) Mohamed M. Massaquoi is currently in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia attending the Sixth Conference of African Ministers responsible for Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CVRS).
Yesterday, Mr. Massaquoi was requested by UNECA (United Nations Economic Commission For Africa) to chair a session of CRVS Experts on “Building Integrated Civil Registration and Vital Statistics and Digital Identity Systems”.
In his introductory remarks as chairman of the session, Mr. Massaquoi said “Sierra Leone is among the few in Africa that have gained some experience in integrating CRVS with Identity Systems into one system”.
The NCRA Director General noted that since 2016, “The Government of Sierra Leone, following a policy on Civil Registration Reform mandating all previously fragmented registration of vital events (Births, Deaths, Causes of Deaths, Marriages, Divorces, Adoptions, Nullities etc) into one entity, which is the NCRA, a law on CRVS and Identity Management integration was passed in June 2016. The 2016 National Civil Registration Act established the NCRA as the institution responsible for the management and coordination of all Civil Registration, Vital Statistics and National Identity System which is very much consistent with the UN Guidelines and International best practice”.
Mr. Massaquoi said that, “Investment in CVRS and ID Management saves cost for Episodic and Cyclical events”.
See Mr Massaquoi’s introductory remarks below.

Halloway & Partners
Barristers and Solicitors
2nd Floor
8 Howe Street
Freetown

26th October, 2022

RE: LETTER BEFORE ACTION

We wish to acknowledge with thanks receipt of your letter dated 25th October, 2022 and to state as follows:-

I. That we do not plan to retract and/or apologize for the publications quoted herein
II. Your client has been pleading with some of our friends to cease publication on the matter for which a statement has already been obtained from him by the Criminal Investigations Department.
III. The allegation of sexual harassment and solicitation by person in authority against your client is now a matter of public interest.
IV. Our role is to inform, entertain and educate the public.
V. Your client will not stop us from performing our role in the interest of the public
VI. Your client is a public servant. He is working for a bank that is 65% owned by the Government of Sierra Leone.

Yours faithfully,
Sorie Fofana
For and on behalf of the Editorial Board