In a major step towards preparing for Sierra Leone’s 2026 Population and Housing Census, Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL) convened a strategic meeting with members of the Census Technical Committee to review and validate the methodology for the upcoming GIS and cartographic mapping exercise.
Held at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown, the session brought together representatives from government ministries, agencies, universities, research bodies, and advocacy groups, including the National Commission for Persons Living with Disability (NCPD).
Mr. Abdulai Salia Brima, Director of Censuses and GIS at Stats SL, emphasized the critical role of cartographic mapping as the groundwork for accurate census enumeration. He called on committee members to provide technical inputs into the draft methodology, particularly for the pilot phase of the national mapping exercise.
Chairman of the Stats SL Council, Mr. Moses Williams, applauded the collaborative nature of the process and urged members to engage actively, especially in thematic areas such as agriculture, health, education, and tourism. He underscored the non-political nature of the census, describing it as a vital tool for national development planning.
Deputy Statistician-General Mr. Lansana Kpewolo Kanneh gave a detailed update on the 2026 Census preparations, noting substantial government support, including a 61 million new Leones (approximately $2.5 million) budget, 500 tablets for mapping, new software tools, satellite imagery, vehicles, and Starlink-powered internet systems. He also revealed plans to establish one of Africa’s most advanced geospatial laboratories.
Dr. Foluke Adebayo, a UNFPA cartographic expert, presented a roadmap for implementing a reliable and error-free GIS and mapping process.
The meeting concluded with the Technical Committee finalizing tools, protocols, and training materials for the pilot mapping phase, reaffirming Stats SL’s commitment to a transparent, inclusive, and data-driven census process.
