๐๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐ก ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง, ๐๐๐ก ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฏ๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐๐ | 24th ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฒ 2025
In an effort to strengthen international collaboration ahead of the 2026 Decennial Population and Housing Census, Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL), held a high-level strategic meeting with the British High Commission in Freetown.
The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including:
- Mr. Andrew Bob Johnny, Statistician-General & Chief Census Officer, Stats SL
- Madam Alex Maclean, Development Director, British High Commission
- Madam Sibeso Mululuma, Officer-in-Charge, UNFPA Sierra Leone
- Mr. Abdulai Salia Brima, National Census Coordinator & Director of Censuses and GIS, Stats SL
- Mr. Edouard Talnan, Chief Technical Adviser, 2026 Population and Housing Census
- Mr. Alfred Kamanda, Director of Finance & Admin , Stats SL
- Mr. Samuel Palmer, Quality Assurance Officer, UNFPA Sierra Leone
- Mr. Samuel Ansumana, Director of Communications and Public Relations, Stats SL
During the engagement, Mr. Andrew Bob Johnny, Statistician-General, expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to collaborate with the British High Commission. He provided an overview of the 2026 Census preparations, highlighting a major milestone: the full digital transformation of the census processโfrom data collection to analysis.
He also announced the Cartographic Mapping Exercise, set to begin in September 2025, with training for around 700 cartographers to commence in August. This mapping exercise aims to capture the characteristics of all structures nationwide to ensure comprehensive and inclusive coverage.
Despite fiscal constraints, Mr. Johnny emphasized that the Government of Sierra Leone has prioritized the census, affirming that there is no โPlan Bโ for its implementation. He appealed to the British High Commission for both technical and financial assistance to support the effort.
In response, Madam Alex Maclean acknowledged the strategic importance of the census and sought further insight into potential challenges. While noting that the UK is also navigating economic difficulties, he assured that the British High Commission would explore viable avenues for support.
Representing UNFPA, Madam Sibeso Mululuma reaffirmed the agencyโs commitment to providing technical expertise and aligning census planning with international standards in collaboration with UNECA. She echoed the call for broader support, noting the pressures of the evolving global financial landscape.
ยฉ๏ธ ๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฌ & ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ญ
