AYV News, April 23, 2026
The Government of Sierra Leone, in collaboration with Constrat Systems SL Ltd, has commenced a three-day capacity-building workshop at the Sierra Palms Hotel in Freetown to support the nationwide implementation of the Unified Resident and Work Permit platform.
The workshop brings together officials from the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security, the Sierra Leone Immigration Department, and Constratoperational staff deployed across the country to strengthen service delivery, compliance, and enforcement.
The Unified Permit platform forms part of Government’s broader effort to modernise migration management, improve data integrity, and address longstanding inefficiencies associated with manual, paper-based processes. The system introduces a secure, biometric-driven framework designed to enhance transparency, reduce fraud, and enable real-time verification of non-nationals.
A key component of the rollout is decentralisation, with offices being operationalised in Freetown, Lungi (Freetown International Airport), Port Loko, Makeni, Bo, Kenema, and Kono, bringing services closer to applicants and ensuring nationwide coverage.
The training is focused on equipping deployed staff with the technical knowledge and professional standards required to operate the system effectively, particularly in data verification, customer engagement, and procedural consistency.
In his remarks, the Minister of Employment, Labourand Social Security, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, emphasised accountability within the new system:
“You are not employed by the Government; therefore, you do not have a job for life. This is a performance-based engagement. We expect you to deliver at the highest standards, and Constrat has ensured that you are fairly compensated to do so.”
With increased emphasis on enforcement following the end of the compliance grace period. The platform is expected to strengthen national security, improve regulatory oversight, and position Sierra Leone as a more structured and compliant destination for investment and employment.
Reinforcing the national security dimension, the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, David Fortune, stated:
“A modern migration management system is critical to national security. The Unified Permit platform provides Government with a reliable, real-time database to monitor and manage non-nationals effectively, while ensuring that Sierra Leone remains open, secure, and well-regulated.”
He added:
“Digitilisation allows for secure, centralized databases that minimises duplication, prevent fraud, and facilitate real-time verification of identity and status. This transformation supports national security objectives while aligning with international best practices in data protection and governance.”
Speaking on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer of Constrat Systems, Communications Consultant YeamaThompson highlighted the operational focus of the rollout, noting that the reform is anchored on both technology and performance.
She emphasised that while the platform provides the foundation, its success will depend on the professionalism, accuracy, and consistency of staff deployed nationwide, who remain at the frontline of implementation.
With the grace period now concluded, the focus shifts to ensuring that all non-nationals are properly documented within a structured and lawful system, reinforcing compliance and the integrity of the national database.
