Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The Parliament of Sierra Leone has granted approval for the development of a Digital Unified E-Resident and Work Permit System, marking a significant step towards digital governance in the country. The contract for the project was approved last week.
Spearheaded by the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security, in collaboration with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Sierra Leone Immigration Department (SLID), the new system aims to fully digitize the processes for obtaining, possessing, and renewing resident and work permits. This initiative is intended to replace existing manual procedures, enhance service delivery, and combat fraud and inefficiencies associated with permits.
The move aligns with President Julius Maada Bio’s digital transformation agenda and supports the objectives of the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) 2024–2030. Officials anticipate that the unified e-permit system will yield substantial economic and administrative advantages for Sierra Leone.
These benefits include improved regulatory compliance, reduced processing times, enhanced revenue collection, and overall better service delivery, ultimately fostering economic growth. The system will also introduce biometric electronic cards for permits, bolstering data security and streamlining user access.
During a parliamentary session on Thursday, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, the Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, delivered a compelling address emphasizing the current lack of a digital system for permit verification, tracking, and compliance enforcement. He stated that the new platform would address this gap through automation, real-time access, and transparency. The system will also integrate with the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA)’s registered foreigner database, enforce skills transfer, and prioritize employment for Sierra Leoneans.
Minister Swaray highlighted the collaborative effort involved in the contract’s development, noting contributions from the Attorney-General’s Office, the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation, and the Office of the Chief Minister, ensuring legal, technical, and policy compliance.
The contract has been awarded to Constrat Systems Ltd., a Sierra Leonean IT firm currently responsible for printing the country’s National ID Card under a contract with the NCRA. The project will be implemented under a Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) model spanning 15 years, with reviews scheduled every five years. Under this agreement, Constrat Systems will develop and co-manage the digital platform, facilitating knowledge transfer and capacity building within government institutions before the eventual handover of full control to the Government of Sierra Leone.
The official signing of the unified e-resident and work permit contract involved the Labour Minister, the Internal Affairs Minister, and the Managing Director of Constrat Systems. The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice were present as witnesses to the signing.
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