Statistician General Warns Enumerators Against Data Falsification During Kenema Field Visit

The Statistician General of Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL), Mr. Andrew Bob Johnny, has warned census officials against falsifying household information, emphasising that anyone found violating the institution’s Code of Conduct will face legal action.

Mr. Johnny issued the warning on Sunday, 26 July 2026, during a working visit to Dodo Chiefdom in Kenema District to assess progress, challenges and compliance in the ongoing field operation.

During the engagement, the District Census Officer for Kenema, Bockarie Luama, informed the Statistician General that 18 Enumerators and five Supervisors have been deployed to Dodo Chiefdom to carry out the exercise.

Mr. Luama disclosed that out of the 18 Enumeration Areas (EAs) assigned to the chiefdom, 13 have been completed, while work continues in the remaining five areas.

He identified poor road networks and limited internet connectivity as major challenges affecting the team’s operations but assured that field personnel remain committed to completing the exercise successfully.

In his remarks, Mr. Johnny commended the field staff for their resilience and dedication despite the difficult terrain and challenging working conditions. However, he stressed that the success of the exercise would not only be measured by the completion of Enumeration Areas but also by the accuracy, quality and integrity of the data collected.

The Statistician General reminded Enumerators and Supervisors of the contracts they signed and the provisions of the Stats SL Code of Conduct, warning against any attempt to compromise the credibility of the exercise.

“It will be unfortunate for anyone who tries to go against the rules we all agreed to,” Mr. Johnny said. “We have professionals from different fields monitoring the work in the evenings. Any attempt by any Enumerator to falsify household information will be met with legal action.”

He further disclosed that legal action has already commenced against some Enumerators found to have breached the institution’s Code of Conduct.

Field Coordinator Juana Vandy Saawah assured the Statistician General that the team remains committed to producing reliable and credible data for national development.

The meeting was also attended by Regional Publicity Officer East, Manser Sahr Yongai, Supervisor Kailoko, and several Enumerators.

The visit forms part of Statistics Sierra Leone’s continued monitoring efforts to ensure that the national statistical exercise is conducted in line with international standards of accuracy, transparency and professionalism.