The Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Francis Kai-Kai has on Tuesday 7th June 2022, encouraged academics in demographic studies in Universities to further study and evaluate the population information of the 2021 Mid-Term Census in order to better analyse and interpret the outcome of the Census information to the wider public.

Speaking to journalists on live radio and television programmes on the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), Minister Kai-said that those who have an understanding in population dynamics and could give figures should be given the platform to interpret and complement what the Census information was saying.

“Those studying urban sociology, urban geography and urban economics— these are things they really need to understand and inform us more and more, especially policymakers. So it’s a challenge to the academics who really understand population dynamics to really complement what the Census is saying”, says Dr. Kai-Kai.

He said it was important for the Census information to be interpreted by those who are the professionals in demographics and not Civil Society Organisations, who are bent on political interpretation of figures.

“I am really looking forward to more debates on this issue, especially from professionals in the study of demography to help us with more analysis on the quality of the Census information for proper planning purposes”, Minister Kai-Kai said.

Dr. Kai-Kai noted that there was need for the public to understand that 98% of the enumeration areas were covered, and that only 2% were left out, which according to him would be addressed during the post-enumeration period, adding that 90% of the estimation that was made was covered in terms of the population count.

He further stated that development partners globally use the figures generated from Census to determine how much aid should be given to be specific country, adding that census information has always been used in just about all planning decisions.

“This Mid-Term census has provided the essential data pertaining to demographic, social and economic characteristics of the population and housing which will be used for planning at all levels. Henceforth, Stats SL will be able to provide Locality, Ward, Section, Chiefdom, District and Regional Level population that can be generated in a timely manner”, he said.