Section 45, The National Civil Registration Act, 2016

(1) Subject to this Act, when a child is born in Sierra Leone, it is the duty of the parents or the surviving parent of the child, or if the parents are dead or incapable through ill health of complying with this subsection, a qualified informant not later than 3 months from the date of the birth to inform the Registration Officer, to the best of his knowledge and belief, the required particulars of the birth and to sign the Register of Births in the presence of the Registration Officer. Correction or cancellation of entries. of births. 32 33 (2) Where, owing to non-compliance with subsection (1), a birth is not registered and the Authority is unable to contact either parent of a child, the Authority shall give a qualified informant notice in writing requiring the informant to - (a) attend before a Registration Officer at the office of the Authority or at such other convenient place as shall be specified by the Authority; (b) give to the Registration Officer, to the best of his knowledge and belief, the required particulars of the birth; and (c) sign the Register of Births in the presence of the Registration Officer. (3) Where subsection (1) or, as the case may be, paragraphs (a) to (c) of subsection (2) have been complied with in relation to a birth, the Registration Officer shall register the birth in such manner as may be prescribed by the Authority. (4) Where, in relation to the birth of a child- (a) the parents of the child are dead or incapable through ill health of complying with subsection (1); or (b) neither the parents or qualified informant can be found after all reasonable efforts to do so have been made, the Authority shall cause the birth to be registered on such evidence as the Director-General may consider adequate and which shall include, the place where the birth occurred if known and evidence that all reasonable efforts to find the parents or a qualified informant have been made.