Commentary

By Shannon A.L. Scott
The National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) and the National Communications Authority (NatCA) yesterday Tuesday 19th August 2025, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) held at NatCA Headquarters, Hill Station, Freetown to formalize collaboration on the National Identification Number (NIN)-SIM integration project. NCRA Director General, Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi, expressed gratitude to NatCA for facilitating the agreement, describing it as a “superb opportunity” that consolidates years of effort. He highlighted that the initiative began two years ago, backed by the Office of National Security (ONS), to implement a presidential directive ensuring NIN-SIM integration as a global best practice.

“This process will make all SIM-related transactions traceable, serving the common good of the country,” Massaquoi stated. He further noted that Sierra Leone has already captured around 93% of its population in the national database, one of the highest rates in sub-Saharan Africa.
Coordinator of the NIN-SIM Project and Director of Regulatory Administration at NatCA, Smart Kokofele explained that subscriber registration had always been a regulatory requirement under the NatCA Act of 2006 and was reinforced by the 2020 Civil Regulations. He recalled engaging MNOs nationwide to enforce subscriber identification in response to rising fraud, theft, and crimes.
To ensure smooth implementation, Kokofele said a technical committee comprising NCRA, NatCA, and MNOs was established. It successfully integrated NCRA’s database with operators’ systems, enabling real-time cross-checking of subscriber information. He added that a communication strategy is underway to sensitize citizens on acquiring their national ID cards, which are now mandatory for obtaining SIM cards.
Director General of NatCA, Amara Brewah, emphasized the importance of the initiative in strengthening national security and financial safety. “We want to ensure that when people use their numbers for banking or other purposes, they can be properly identified.
If telecom systems are used to defraud, we must be able to trace and hold individuals accountable,” he explained. Brewah commended the NCRA, MNOs, and their leadership teams for their commitment, adding that the MOU and Service-Level Agreement (SLA) signed will guide data-sharing, oversight, and operational standards going forward.