The Statistician General and Chief Census Officer for the 2026 Population and Housing Census, Andrew Bob Johnny, has assured political parties of the credibility and transparency of the upcoming census during the 7th Interparty Dialogue Committee (IPDC) meeting organized by the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) on September 25, 2025 at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown.
In his detailed presentation, Andrew Bob Johnny described the census as a “momentous national endeavor” vital to Sierra Leone’s development planning. He stressed that credible census data provides the foundation for evidence-based decision-making, equitable resource allocation and monitoring socio-economic change over time. “We simply cannot plan effectively as a country without credible census data; it is the sine qua non for national development over the next decade,” he stated.
Andrew Bob Johnny explained that specialized committees have been set up to oversee the process, including an Advisory Committee comprising political party representatives, a Technical Committee to design census instruments, a Publicity Committee to drive awareness, and the Census Secretariat as the operational hub.
He reported that training for cartographic mapping started nationwide on September 22, 2025 and will last for ten days, followed by fieldwork to delineate enumeration areas over the next six months. A pilot census, in line with United Nations standards, will be conducted in December 2025 ahead of the full enumeration exercise in December 2026.
On Government support, Andrew Bob Johnny, praised the investment of $24 million already committed towards procurement of advanced technologies, vehicles, tablets, laptops and Starlink internet services. He revealed, however, that a funding gap of $13 million remains and called on development partners, donors and the private sector to assist. He further commended the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for leading donor coordination.
Emphasizing inclusivity, Andrew Bob Johnny assured the dialogue that the census will be transparent, participatory and simplified for both enumerators and respondents. “The questionnaire has been simplified for ease of use and we are committed to engaging stakeholders at all levels,” he affirmed.
Representatives of political parties welcomed the progress. Leonard Balogun Koroma of the All People’s Congress (APC) praised Stats SL’s openness but encouraged earlier engagement with parties for fuller participation. Another APC representative, Sidi Yaya Tunis, urged political leaders to support the census rather than undermine it, stressing the importance of mobilizing citizens.
From the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), Ahmed Saybom Kanu called for stronger involvement of Paramount Chiefs and local authorities, noting that “the census is not a political exercise;it is a tool for national development.”
Other representatives, including those from the All Political Parties Association (APPA), expressed similar support and gave constructive feedback. The meeting ended with broad consensus that the 2026 Population and Housing Census will be an essential step in shaping Sierra Leone’s future development.
