By Kadijatu Bangura, Reporter, D.S
The Parliament of Sierra Leone has approved the development of a Digital Unified E-Resident and Work Permit System, marking a significant advancement in the country’s digital governance efforts. The contract for this initiative was approved last week.
Led 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 This initiative seeks to replace outdated manual procedures, enhance service delivery, and combat fraud and inefficiencies associated with permits.
Aligned with President Julius Maada Bio’s digital transformation agenda, the project also supports the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) 2024–2030. Officials anticipate that the unified e-permit system will provide substantial economic and administrative benefits, including improved regulatory compliance, reduced processing times, enhanced revenue collection, and better overall service delivery, ultimately fostering economic growth. The system will introduce biometric electronic cards for permits, enhancing data security and streamlining user access.
During a parliamentary session, Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, emphasized the current absence of a digital system for permit verification, tracking, and compliance enforcement. He noted that the new platform would address these gaps through automation, real-time access, and transparency. The system will 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 efforts involved in developing the contract, which included 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 over 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, with the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice present as witnesses.
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