APC Formal Inquiry Regarding Transparency in National Census Mapping

APC Formal Inquiry Regarding Transparency in National Census Mapping

The All People's Congress (APC) has submitted a formal request for clarification to Statistics Sierra Leone, citing significant concerns regarding transparency and information access within the ongoing national cartographic mapping exercise.

In correspondence directed to the Statistician General, the APC highlighted discrepancies following a televised discussion on 15 March 2026. The party noted assertions by a Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) representative suggesting that the ruling party has maintained real-time monitoring and data capture capabilities throughout the mapping process.

The APC reported that its own Census Technical Committee has been denied equivalent access. Despite their inclusion in the Census Advisory Committee, APC representatives have reportedly been restricted from observing the technical implementation of the exercise.

Furthermore, the party expressed concern that the conclusion of the second mapping phase and the initiation of the third phase were conducted without formal notification to the Advisory Committee or the general public.

The inquiry questions the procedural integrity of the operation, specifically whether any political entity has been granted unauthorized access to real-time institutional data outside of the established regulatory frameworks.

The APC emphasized that standard census protocols dictate that real-time data access remains exclusive to authorized personnel within secure, state-managed systems. The party cautioned that any indication of preferential access risks compromising the impartiality and public credibility of the final census results.

Operational disparities were also noted in the Falaba and Karene districts. The APC observed that transportation allowances for mapping personnel in these regions appear inconsistent with national averages, which may negatively impact the thoroughness of the fieldwork.

Consequently, the APC has called upon Statistics Sierra Leone to define the protocols governing data access, verify the current status of all mapping phases, and justify the criteria used for district-level logistical allocations.

The party further requested the immediate release of reports covering the pilot mapping exercise and the first two completed phases to the Census Advisory Committee for review.

The APC concluded by reiterating that transparency and institutional neutrality are fundamental to the census, as the resulting data is critical for equitable national planning, resource distribution, and long-term development strategy.