By Emma Black

The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) has appointed Mr. Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi, Director General of the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), as Disability and Inclusion Ambassador in recognition of his outstanding leadership and commitment to advancing the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Sierra Leone.

The honour was conferred following NCRA’s recent initiative to provide free National Identification Cards to persons with disabilities, particularly in the Western Area. The project aims to promote the legal identity, dignity, and access to essential services for PWDs.

The appointment was announced shortly after a handover ceremony on October 21, 2025, where 120 PWDs from the Pademba Road, Wilberforce Street, and House of Jesus communities received their National ID cards. The event was attended by representatives from UNICEF, the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs, and the NCPD. It aligns with President Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s vision of inclusive national development under the New Direction Agenda.

In a letter dated October 21, 2025, NCPD Executive Secretary Saa Lamin Kortequee commended Mr. Massaquoi for his exemplary leadership and the NCRA’s efforts to remove barriers to inclusion. He highlighted the Authority’s phased registration approach, which deployed mobile registration units and waived ID fees for persons with disabilities.

Your work enhances the legal identities of our compatriots with disabilities and ensures they are recognised and included in all facets of national life, the letter stated.

Responding to the appointment, Mr. Massaquoi expressed appreciation for the honour and reaffirmed his commitment to promoting equal access for all citizens.

This appointment reinforces our shared commitment to equity and inclusion. National ID cards are not just documents they are gateways to opportunity. For persons with disabilities, they enable access to banking, healthcare, and other essential services. No one should be left behind in Sierra Leone’s journey toward progress,” he said.

The NCPD Chairman and other key stakeholders were copied on the appointment letter. The recognition marks a significant milestone in Sierra Leone’s broader effort to achieve universal ID coverage and strengthen institutional partnerships for the empowerment of persons with disabilities.

Through initiatives like this, the NCRA continues to demonstrate its dedication to building an inclusive society where every citizen’s identity and rights are acknowledged and protected.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Friday, 24 October 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)