OARG Registers 4,000+ Marriages in 2025

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

The Office of the Administrator and Registrar General (OARG) has reported a landmark year of nationwide legal documentation, recording and preserving thousands of registrable instruments in 2025, including over 4,000 officially registered marriages. The announcement underscores the institution’s pivotal role in strengthening legal certainty, protecting citizens’ rights and supporting governance through accurate and accessible public records.
In a public notice issued from its headquarters on Walpole Street in Freetown, the Office confirmed that all registrable instruments processed between 1 January and 31 December 2025 were duly captured in compliance with the Registration of Instruments Act (Cap 256 of the Laws of Sierra Leone) and other applicable legal frameworks. The comprehensive data reflect sustained legal, social and commercial activity across the country.
Conveyances Dominate Registrations Nationwide
According to the compiled statistics, conveyance and related instruments constituted the largest category of registrations nationwide. A total of 7,086 conveyances were recorded across OARG offices, with Freetown accounting for the vast majority, highlighting the capital’s continued dominance in property and land transactions.
Beyond conveyances, the Office processed hundreds of other legal instruments, including mortgages, leases, powers of attorney, statutory declarations, releases of mortgage, deeds of gift, mining licences, memorial judgments, wills and divorce-related instruments. These figures demonstrate a growing reliance on formal legal documentation to support personal, commercial and institutional transactions.
Regional Offices Record Increased Activity
OARG regional offices in Bo, Kenema, Makeni and Port Loko also recorded significant volumes of legal instruments in 2025. The steady increase in registrations outside Freetown reflects the expanding reach of statutory services and rising public awareness of the importance of formal documentation in provincial centres.
Officials say this trend signals progress toward decentralised access to legal services, reducing the need for citizens to travel to the capital for essential registrations.
Over 4,000 Marriages Officially Registered
The Marriage Registry recorded robust activity nationwide during the year. Official data show that 1,782 Christian marriages and 2,502 Muslim marriages were formally registered in 2025. In addition, the Office processed hundreds of marriage certificates, certified true copies and official searches, further supporting verification and record-keeping needs for citizens and institutions.
While Freetown remained the primary centre for marriage registration services, regional offices continued to play an important role in facilitating community-level documentation, verification and public access to marriage records.
Intellectual Property Administration Centralised in Freetown
In the area of intellectual property, OARG processed 662 trademark registrations in 2025. The Office also handled renewals, reclassifications, assignments, mergers, amendments, oppositions, withdrawals and patent-related filings.
All intellectual property matters were managed through the Freetown office, reinforcing its status as the national hub for IP administration and protection. Officials note that the steady volume of filings reflects growing awareness among businesses and innovators of the importance of protecting intellectual assets.
Estates and Gratuity Services Maintain Strong Performance
The Estates and Gratuity Division also recorded notable activity nationwide. In total, 356 estates were administered in 2025, with Freetown again accounting for the largest share. The Office further processed gratuity reports, conducted interviews and issued recommendations in accordance with established procedures.
Several cases were classified as non-impediment, ensuring the orderly, lawful and timely administration of deceased persons’ estates and reducing disputes among beneficiaries.
Commitment to Accuracy, Transparency and Public Access
In the notice, the Administrator and Registrar General, Ms. Martina Bindzu Egbenka, assured the public that all records for 2025 have been properly documented, verified and securely preserved to guarantee accuracy, transparency and reliability for legal, administrative and public reference purposes.
She encouraged citizens, institutions and legal practitioners seeking to verify records, obtain certified copies, correct entries or access 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 nationwide compilation highlights OARG’s continued commitment to efficient public service delivery, protection of legal rights and the strengthening of Sierra Leone’s legal and governance framework through credible, accessible and well-managed registration systems.