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The Statistician-General and Chief Census Officer for the 2026 Population and Housing Census, Andrew Bob Johnny, has assured Paramount Chiefs across Sierra Leone that the 2026 Population and Housing Census (PHC) will be transparent, credible, and fully digital.
Speaking at the National Conference of Paramount Chiefs held in Bo and organised by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, he provided traditional authorities with a comprehensive update on the country’s preparedness for the 2026 Decennial Population and Housing Census.
He underscored the indispensable role of Paramount Chiefs in mobilising their communities, creating public awareness, and encouraging full participation in the census to ensure that every Sierra Leonean is counted.
He acknowledged that although the pilot census presented some operational challenges, the lessons learned have significantly strengthened preparations for the main census. He noted that this was one of the key reasons Statistics Sierra Leone recently conducted a Mock Census to further test and validate the census processes, procedures, and operational systems before the nationwide enumeration.
Furthermore, he stated that Sierra Leone’s digital census methodology continues to set a benchmark on the African continent. By integrating geospatial mapping with Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI), the 2026 census will provide a modern, efficient, and transparent system for collecting high-quality data to support evidence-based policymaking and long-term national development planning.
The Statistician-General also briefed the Paramount Chiefs on the Mock Census Exercise, which was conducted in six selected districts and is now nearing completion. He explained that the exercise was limited to selected sections within participating chiefdoms and was designed to test operational procedures, digital tools, field applications, and overall census readiness ahead of the nationwide Population and Housing Census scheduled for December 2026.
He concluded by calling on Paramount Chiefs to champion census awareness campaigns throughout their chiefdoms, sections, and villages. He emphasised that accurate census data forms the foundation for equitable resource allocation, inclusive development, effective service delivery, and informed decision-making across Sierra Leone.
