Residents in Kambia District are voicing frustration over what they describe as the inflated cost of obtaining the National Identification Card. While the official fee set by the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) is NLe 145, residents say they are being charged NLe 220 in some parts of the district.
The NCRA established the NLe 145 fee to ensure affordability, as the ID card is essential for accessing services such as healthcare, education, banking, and travel.
Speaking to SierraEye Magazine, Mariama Conteh, a resident of Kukuna in Bramaia Chiefdom, described the burden the higher fee places on families.
“This is an undue burden on us. Many people in remote towns and villages are facing similar situations. We are already living on scarce resources, and we have to farm and sell before we can pay for our ID cards,” she said, urging government intervention and an NCRA investigation.
Fatima Bangura, a local teacher, echoed the concerns, warning that raising the cost of ID cards could effectively exclude many from accessing this vital document.
“Identification is a fundamental human right. By raising the cost, the government is effectively shutting out a significant portion of the population,” she argued, calling for a fairer review of the fees.
However, Ibrahim Yalansorie Kamara, the Regional Registration Officer for the Northwest, offered a different explanation. He told SierraEye that an adjusted fee of NLe 185 was agreed for remote areas to cover staff transportation and allowances.
“This was a unanimous decision during stakeholder engagements, communicated to local leaders, including Paramount Chiefs, before the exercise began,” he explained.
Still, many residents remain dissatisfied. Youth in Kukuna town warned that failure to address the issue could erode public trust in government institutions, especially amid Sierra Leone’s ongoing economic challenges.
The surge in demand for ID cards comes after the government announced that all residents must link their SIM cards to their National Identification Number (NIN). Those who fail to comply risk deactivation, preventing them from making calls. Authorities say the move is designed to enhance security and combat cybercrime.
