๐๐ข๐๐ซ๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ, ๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐จ๐๐, ๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐ฐ๐ง 30๐ญ๐ก โ 31๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฒ 2025
Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL), in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MoICE), has successfully concluded a two-day, results-oriented Message Development and Communication Strategy Finalization Workshop in preparation for the 2026 Population and Housing Census (PHC).
The workshop focused on the following key objectives:
- Finalizing the draft Communication and Publicity Strategy for the Census;
- Developing inclusive and targeted messages for all segments of the population;
- Crafting the official theme and slogan for the Census; and
- Finalizing and adopting a logo that reflects the central theme of inclusivity.
The workshop brought together leading communication and media professionals from key institutions, including:
Ministry of Information and Civic Education, Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation, Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Guild of Editors, Sierra Leone Bar Association, Independent Radio Network (IRN), Women in the Media Sierra Leone (WIMSAL), Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG), National Council for Civic Education and Democracy (NaCCED), national radio and television outlets, National Communication Authority (NatCA), mobile network providers (QCell, Africell, Orange), as well as influencers from civil society organizations, the Bike Riders Union, Sierra Leone Artists Union, the entertainment industry, and online bloggers.
In his welcome address, Mr. Francis Tommy, Director of the National Statistical Systems Division (NSSD) at Stats SL, emphasized that the success of the 2026 PHC hinges not only on technical excellence and logistical coordination, but equally on the publicโs understanding, trust, and willingness to participate. He described the workshop as a crucial step in refining a communication strategy that will ensure no one is left behind, urging participants to contribute their full expertise, creativity, and cultural insights.
The Honorable Minister of Information and Civic Education, Mr. Chernor Bah, also addressed the gathering, highlighting the complexity and importance of the task ahead.
โAll of us here have a crucial role to play. We must ensure that the message about the Census reaches every nook and cranny of the country. Our communication must be clear, culturally sensitive, and inclusiveโdispel misconceptions, address concerns, and inspire participation. The Census is a civic imperativeโit informs policies, guides resource allocation, and drives national development in health, education, infrastructure, and beyond.โ
Minister Bah officially declared the workshop open, calling for collective responsibility and national pride in supporting the census process.
Following intense group sessions and collaborative discussions, the workshop concluded with the finalization of a robust, inclusive Communication and Publicity Strategy, an agreed-upon slogan that resonates with all demographics, and the adoption of an official logo for the 2026 Population and Housing Census.
ยฉ๏ธ ๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ & ๐๐จ๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฌ & ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ญ
