By Amin Kef (Ranger)
Towards the upcoming 2025 Population and Housing Census (PHC), Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL), with support from the Government of Sierra Leone and in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), held its Inaugural Advisory and Technical Committee Meetings on October 1st and 2nd, 2024, at New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown. The meetings marked the formal commencement of preparations for the census, which is scheduled to take place in December 2025.
The focus of these meetings was to determine the Terms of Reference (ToR) for both the Advisory and Technical Committees and to finalize the composition of their members. The Advisory Committee, as the highest decision-making body for the census, includes representatives from Sierra Leone’s major political parties, he All People’s Congress (APC) and the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), as well as members from the All Political Parties Association (APPA), key Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and stakeholders such as the Inter-Religious Council, the Council of Paramount Chiefs and the Security Sector.
For the Technical Committee, participants were drawn from development partners including UNFPA, the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), the European Union (EU), the Department for International Development (DFID), the World Bank, universities and other relevant MDAs. These committees will play critical roles in ensuring the smooth execution of the 2025 census.
In his opening remarks, Moses L. J. Williams, Chairman of Stats SL Council and Head of the Advisory Committee, emphasized that the Advisory Committee is responsible for governance, policy-making and oversight of the census process, while the Technical Committee will focus on the technical aspects, such as finalizing the census tools and instruments. Moses L. J. Williams underscored the importance of collaboration and thorough preparation to achieve the desired outcome.
Peter Sam-Kpakra, Development Secretary at the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, highlighted the pivotal role accurate data plays in national development. He called on all Sierra Leoneans to support the census process, stressing that no country can advance without reliable statistical information.
Chief Census Officer and Statistician-General, Andrew Bob Johnny, expressed satisfaction with the high turnout from committee members and reiterated Stats SL’s readiness to conduct the census successfully, provided adequate resources are made available. Andrew Bob Johnny further affirmed that his institution is prepared to oversee what could be the most comprehensive and effective census in Sierra Leone’s history.
UNFPA’s Deputy Country Representative, Sibeso Mululuma, echoed these sentiments, reaffirming the organization’s commitment to supporting Stats SL throughout the census process. She emphasized the importance of maintaining quality control and ethical standards to ensure that the data collected meets international benchmarks and serves the needs of all stakeholders.
During the meetings, Deputy Statistician-General Lansana Kpewolo Kanneh delivered a detailed presentation outlining the various stages of the census process, from preparation through to the final execution and post-census activities. He noted that Stats SL would require $37.5 million to conduct the census, of which the Government of Sierra Leone has pledged $33 million through a cabinet paper, showcasing the Government’s strong commitment to the project.
The meetings culminated in the review, adjustment and adoption of the ToR and the composition of both committees, marking the official start of the 2025 PHC preparations. The importance of this census was also highlighted by President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, who had earlier laid the foundation for the process.
In his August 2024 address, President Bio emphasized the significance of the 2025 census in guiding national development programs such as the 2024-2030 Medium-Term National Development Plan and efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He noted that the data from this decennial census would provide a crucial baseline for assessing the impact of development initiatives and tracking the country’s progress.
The President further reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the census with the necessary financial and logistical resources and expressed his gratitude to international partners like UNFPA, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and the United States Census Bureau for their collaboration in ensuring the success of this national endeavor.
The 2025 Population and Housing Census is slated to begin on December 2nd, 2025, with December 1st declared as Census Night. The results from this census are expected to be instrumental in shaping Sierra Leone’s future development trajectory.
