NCRA Boss Implicated in fraudulent Issuance of National Identification Card

By-Kadiatu Sankoh 

An alleged case of identity fraud involving the National Identification Card of Paramount Chief (PC) Gassama Kanja IV of the Gorama Mende Chiefdom in Kenema District in Sierra Leone under police investigation, following claims that the card was issued without her consent and through irregular procedures, according to family members and officials familiar with the matter.

Daniel Jobette, son of the Paramount Chief, told journalists in an interview that in November 2024 unknown thieves broke into the Paramount Chief’s residence through a window and stole valuable gold, jewelry, including her voter identification card. He said the document has not been recovered since the incident.

The matter resurfaced in November 2025 when two men identified as Sam Kallay and Lansana Kallay reportedly visited the Paramount Chief’s residence carrying a cheque book and requested her signature, As she was once the principal and signatory to the Wolama Vocational School bank account in Kenema.

According to Jobette, the men did not meet the Paramount Chief directly but were instead received by her assistant, Pa Gbani, who questioned the purpose of their visit. Community leaders and chiefs subsequently interrogated the men, during which a National Identification Card bearing the Paramount Chief’s name was allegedly found in their possession.

Jobette said the two men initially claimed they had brought the identification card to return it to the Paramount Chief but later denied having any such document, despite witnesses who said they had seen them with the card during the visit.

Following the incident, Jobette said he travelled to the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) office at Government Wharf in Freetown to verify whether a National Identification Card and driver’s licence had been issued in the Paramount Chief’s name. Officials at the office confirmed that a National Identification Card had been issued on November 3, 2025, but declined to provide further details without the physical presence of the Paramount Chief.

Jobette said he subsequently travelled with the Paramount Chief from Kenema to the NCRA headquarters on Kingharman Road in Freetown. At the Production Department, an official reportedly confirmed that a female identified as Coco Kallay and a male identified as Lansana Kallay had presented themselves as the Paramount Chief’s children.

According to Jobette, NCRA staff stated that the two individuals produced the missing voter identification card and claimed the Paramount Chief was their mother in order for them to be issued the National ID Card, of which CCTV footage was also allegedly shown, indicating their presence during the processing of the card.

Jobette further alleged that the identification card was issued without following proper procedures and that officials told him they acted on authorization from Mohamed Massaquoi, the Director General of the NCRA, to print and release the card to the individuals.

The matter was reported to the police in both Kenema and Freetown in November 2025. Police have taken statements from the complainants and attempted to invite the accused individuals for questioning. However, according to Jobette, the suspects have reportedly failed to appear, citing illness.

Jobette expressed concern over the length of time the investigation has taken and questioned whether powerful individuals may be obstructing the case.