Statistics Sierra Leone Engages Falaba Residents Ahead of 2026 Census.

Statistics Sierra Leone has intensified public engagement in Falaba District, rallying residents around the forthcoming 2026 National Population and Housing Census with a clarion call for collective participation.

Falaba District Council Hall, Mongo Bendugu, served as the venue on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, as Statistics Sierra Leone’s Director of Communications and Public Relations, Mr. Samuel Tamba Ansuma, delivered an impassioned address before a cross-section of district stakeholders. Paramount chiefs, civil society organisations, non-governmental bodies, local dignitaries, students, and diverse community members filled the hall.

The awareness forum unfolded under the Civil Day Series, an initiative of the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, drawing local authorities, community leaders, and citizens eager to grasp the scope and stakes of the nationwide enumeration.

Representing Statistician General and Chief Census Officer, Mr. Andrew Bob Johnny, Director Ansuma unveiled critical insights into Statistics Sierra Leone’s commitment to credible, transparent data collection through surveys and censuses work, which he described as foundational to national development.

He underscored that the census transcends routine government procedure, standing instead as a pivotal national exercise shaping development planning, resource distribution, and service delivery across Sierra Leone. Accurate population data, he noted, will guide decisions in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and employment.

Extending warm regards from Statistics Sierra Leone’s leadership to Falaba and the Northern Region, Director Ansuma briefed attendees on extensive preparatory strides, highlighting the successful pilot census of December 2025. For the first time in national history, he remarked, the exercise attracted over twenty international observers alongside a significant contingent of local monitors.

He further informed residents about the completion of phases one and two of cartographic mapping in Falaba District and nationwide, a meticulous groundwork essential for comprehensive coverage.

Management, bolstered by support from the Government of Sierra Leone and development partners, has established three committees: technical, advisory, and publicity. These structures, Director Ansuma explained, are elevating professionalism and fostering public acceptance ahead of the anticipated count.

Reassuring participants, he noted substantial progress in mapping, recruitment planning, and sensitisation campaigns, all calibrated toward delivering a credible, inclusive census in 2026.

“The census is about people, and it begins with awareness and trust,” the Communications and Public Relations Director affirmed, urging Falaba residents to embrace the process and cooperate fully with enumerators when the time arrives.

He emphasised community ownership as pivotal, stressing that census success ultimately hinges on citizens’ willingness to provide accurate information.

The Civil Day Series continues to serve as an essential platform for government institutions to engage directly with citizens, clarify national programmes, and reinforce public confidence. For many in attendance, the session deepened understanding of the census while reaffirming their individual role in shaping Sierra Leone’s future.

Statistics Sierra Leone

Correspondent: John Farfira Kamara

Email: Johnfarfirakamara@gmail.com

Tel: +23279185532