Tamba Lamina Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs

By Josephine Sesay

In a recent interview with the minister of local government and community Affairs, Tamba Lamina, addressed public concerns surrounding the delayed national census, he clarified that his ministry is not responsible for establishing or naming local entities, but rather for supporting the accurate collection of data on every citizen.

The ministry is not responsible for creating or naming establishments in any part of the country. our role is to ensure that data accurately accounts for every citizen, yes, the census has been delayed, but it will take place, minister Lamina stated.

Originally scheduled for earlier this year, the census was postponed due to logistical challenges and the need for thorough preparation. In January 2025, a high-level assessment mission arrived in Sierra Leone to evaluate the country’s readiness for the upcoming 2025 Population and Housing census, the team includes experts from the United States Census Bureau, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the United Nations economic commission for Africa (UNECA).

The mission’s objective is to assess key components necessary for a successful digital census, including logistical planning, resource mobilization, technological infrastructure, data management systems, legal frameworks, and human resource capacity.

Minister of planning and economic development, Kenyeh Barlay, emphasized the importance of the census for national development, she noted that reliable population data is vital for effective planning, equitable resource distribution, electoral boundary adjustments, and evaluating social and economic interventions.

Despite the delays, the government remains committed to executing a comprehensive and credible census, minister Lamina’s remarks aimed to reassure the public and reinforce the ministry’s commitment to transparency and accuracy throughout the data collection process.

A successful census is critical to Sierra Leone’s development goals, accurate demographic data will help shape policies and programs to improve infrastructure, healthcare, education, and social services nationwide.

As preparations continue, the government is encouraging all citizens to actively participate in the census to ensure inclusive, comprehensive, and reliable data collection.

Copy right –Printed in the Expo Times News on Wednesday, June 4TH, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)