A coalition of media organisations has convened a national town hall meeting in Freetown, bringing together representatives of Statistics Sierra Leone, political parties, electoral authorities, civil society and members of the public to examine preparations for the 2026 Population and Housing Census, amid concerns over transparency, credibility and an estimated US$19 million funding gap discussed during the engagement.
The meeting, held on Friday, October 30, 2026, at the New Brookfields Hotel, was organized by Liberty Online TV, Truth Media, Sierra Eye Magazine, Sierra Check and Engage Salone, in collaboration with the Institute for Legal Research and Advocacy for Justice (ILRAJ).
Held under the theme, “Counted and Represented: The 2026 Census in Sierra Leone,” the engagement provided a platform for citizens to question officials about the country’s readiness for the nationwide exercise scheduled to begin in December.
Delivering the welcome address, Edward Kargbo, Chairman of the Media Coalition and representative of Engage Salone, underscored the importance of public education, transparency and citizen participation in ensuring a credible census.
He encouraged participants to seek clarification on issues surrounding the exercise, emphasizing that accurate population statistics are essential for effective national development planning and equitable resource allocation.
The panel featured Abdulai Salia Brima, National Census Coordinator and Director of Censuses and GIS at Statistics Sierra Leone; Alex Saffa, Electoral Commissioner for the Eastern Province; Ahmed Saybom Kanu, Census Focal Person representing the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP); and Leonard Balogun Koroma, Chairman of the All People’s Congress (APC) 2026 Census Committee.
Political scientist Lena Thompson and data analyst Joel Abdul Kallon also participated, while Kadijah Bangura and Mabel Kabba of Liberty Online TV moderated the discussions.
A major concern raised during the engagement was the estimated US$19 million financing gap, prompting questions about funding commitments, expenditure management, procurement procedures and accountability mechanisms.
Participants sought assurances that financial constraints would not compromise the quality, independence or nationwide coverage of the census.
Earlier reports indicated that the exercise could cost approximately US$37 million, with the Government committing US$24 million and development partners pledging approximately US$1.5 million. The different financial figures discussed reinforced demands for clearer public disclosure of funding requirements and available resources.
Technical preparedness also featured prominently, particularly ongoing cartographic mapping, personnel recruitment, training, pilot exercises and the planned introduction of electronic tablets using Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing technology.
Political representatives discussed the importance of cross-party cooperation in strengthening public confidence and preventing misinformation surrounding the exercise.
The engagement further highlighted the distinction between population enumeration and voter registration, stressing that both exercises serve different institutional and national purposes.
With Census Night scheduled for December 1 and nationwide enumeration expected to commence on December 2, participants emphasized the need for adequate financing, effective public sensitization and credible monitoring arrangements.
The town hall concluded with renewed emphasis on institutional accountability, political cooperation and citizen participation as essential requirements for producing reliable population statistics capable of supporting Sierra Leone’s development priorities.
