As part of preparedness for the conduct of the December 2025 Decennial Population and Housing Census, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has formally presented to Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL), the Census Chief Technical Adviser (CTA), Edouard Talnan, for the 2025 Population and Housing Census.
The presentation ceremony was witnessed by the UNFPA Country Rep, Nadia Rasheed, Deputy Country Rep, Sibeso Mululuma, Chairman of Stats SL Council, Moses Williams, Statistician General of Stats SL, Andrew Bob Johnny, Deputy Statistician General, Lansana Kpewolo Kanneh, National Census Cordinator, Abdulai Salia Brima, Directors and Staff of Stats SL, Stats SL Council Representatives, and members of the Fourth Estate.
In her statement, the UNFPA Country Rep, Nadia Rasheed, emphasized the importance and complexity of a census being a national data producing exercise. She registered UNFPA’s strong commitment to providing technical and other needed support to Stats SL for the conduct of an inclusive and groundbreaking 2025 census.
Madam Rasheed also accounted for an upcoming Census Assessment Team, noting that the team will be charged with the responsibility to design a clear and result driven road map that will guide the entire census process.
Giving an update on the status of planning for the 2025 PHC, the Statistician General, who doubles as the Chief Census Officer, Andrew Bob Johnny, highlighted the importance of the Presidental Proclamation as a critical step towards the conduct of the 2025 census. He noted that since HE’s proclamation, Stats SL has made several progresses, including but not limited to: establishing a well-structured Census Secretariat, having closed-door meetings with the government and other relevant stakeholders, and inaugurating the Census Advisory, Technical and Publicity Committees.
Mr. Johnny also referenced the relevance of resources in running the census. He mentioned that with full support from the government, partners, and the CTA, Stats SL is prepared and determined to undertake a successful 2025 PHC.
The Chairman of Stats SL Council, Moses Williams, expressed delight in UNFPA for being a supportive backbone to Stats SL. He assured the CTA of a safe and workable environment.
Following the statements was the formal introduction and presentation of the Census Chief Technical Adviser by the UNFPA Deputy Country Rep, Sibeso Mululuma. She emphasized that the CTA is vastly experience in censuses and data related processes. Before his coming to Sierra Leone, the CTA had overseen the recently concluded Liberian Census and many other censuses across Africa.
Credit: Stats SL Comms & PR Div