Census Officials Engage Regional Stakeholders in Bo
Statistics Sierra Leone, alongside its partners UNFPA and the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, held a Regional Stakeholders' Engagement on the 2026 Housing and Population Census in Bo, covering participants from Bo, Kenema, Kailahun, and Moyamba.
Delivering the main address, Minister of Planning and Economic Development Madam Kenyeh Barley emphasized that the census is constitutional and mandatory every ten years, noting that updated population and settlement data since the 2015 census is vital for national planning and development focus.
She urged all leaders to encourage universal participation and highlighted that the process will be monitored electronically through a central command hub to ensure accuracy and field compliance.
Representing UNFPA, Communication Lead John Sesay stressed the importance of ensuring everyone is counted, noting that international partner funds support close monitoring of the census process and assist leaders in disseminating accurate information.
Speaking on behalf of the Statistician General, outreach lead Samuel Ansumana outlined census preparations, including the training of master trainers, supervisors, and nationwide enumerators. He confirmed that the census night is set for December 1, 2026, followed by counting on December 2, 2026, based on where individuals sleep on census night.
He also reiterated that enumerators have been taught to use geographically engineered tablets to prevent remote data entry, and toll-free lines will be available for the public.
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