By Amin Kef (Ranger)

The Office of the Administrator and Registrar General (OARG) has announced the successful recording, processing and preservation of official data on registrable instruments for the year 2025, reaffirming its central role in safeguarding legal certainty and public records across the country.

In a public notice issued from its headquarters on Walpole Street, Freetown, the Office disclosed that all registrable instruments processed between 1 January and 31 December 2025 were duly captured in accordance with the Registration of Instruments Act (Cap 256 of the Laws of Sierra Leone) and other applicable laws and regulations .

The compiled data show that conveyance and related instruments formed the largest share of registrations nationwide. A total of 7,086 conveyances were recorded across OARG offices, with Freetown accounting for the overwhelming majority. The records also include hundreds of mortgages, leases, powers of attorney, statutory declarations, releases of mortgage, deeds of gift, mining licences, memorial judgments, wills and divorce-related instruments, reflecting sustained legal and commercial activity throughout the year.

Regional offices in Bo, Kenema, Makeni and Port Loko also registered significant volumes of legal instruments, underscoring the expanding reach of statutory services beyond the capital and the increasing demand for formal documentation in provincial centres.

The Marriage Registry recorded strong nationwide activity in 2025. According to the data, 1,782 Christian marriages and 2,502 Muslim marriages were officially registered. In addition, hundreds of marriage certificates, certified true copies and official searches were processed. Freetown remained the primary centre for marriage registration services, while regional offices continued to support community-level documentation and verification.

On intellectual property, the Office processed 662 trademark registrations during the year, alongside renewals, reclassifications, assignments, mergers, amendments, oppositions, withdrawals and patent-related filings. All intellectual property matters were handled through the Freetown office, reinforcing its status as the national hub for IP administration and protection.

The Estates and Gratuity division also recorded notable activity. Nationwide figures indicate that 356 estates were administered in 2025, with Freetown again accounting for the majority. The Office further processed gratuity reports, interviews and recommendations, while a number of cases were classified as non-impediment, ensuring orderly and lawful administration of deceased persons’ estates.

In the notice, the Administrator and Registrar General, Martina Bindzu Egbenka (Ms.), assured the public that all records have been properly documented, verified and preserved to ensure accuracy, transparency and reliability for administrative, legal and public reference purposes. She encouraged citizens and institutions seeking to verify records, request certified copies, correct entries or obtain additional information relating to the 2025 records to visit OARG offices during official working hours and comply with prescribed procedures.

Signed on 7 January 2026, the comprehensive compilation highlights OARG’s continued commitment to efficient public service delivery, protection of rights and strengthening of Sierra Leone’s legal and governance framework through credible and accessible registration systems. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/over-4000-marriages-officially-registered-nationwide-in-2025-oarg/