By Thaimu T Kamara

Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL) has received 25,000 branded tablets, power banks and protective cases as preparations intensify for the country’s 2026 Population and Housing Census (PHC), scheduled for December.

The latest consignment marks a major milestone in the institution’s preparations to conduct a fully digital Census and is expected to significantly strengthen the capacity of field personnel during the national enumeration exercise.

The 25,000 tablets were procured and fully funded by the Government of Sierra Leone as part of efforts to provide the resources required for the successful implementation of the Census and strengthen the country’s national statistical system.

The new equipment adds to 4,000 tablets received by Stats SL in 2025 for the national cartographic mapping exercise, bringing the institution’s technological resources for the Census preparations to a significantly higher level.

The tablets will serve as the primary devices for electronic data collection during the December enumeration. Census personnel will use the devices to capture, validate and transmit information electronically from communities across the country.

According to Stats SL, the use of digital technology is expected to improve the efficiency, accuracy and timeliness of the Census while reducing the reliance on paper questionnaires and the extensive manual entry of data.

The tablets will also support data-quality assurance through built-in validation features designed to help enumerators and supervisors identify and address potential errors or inconsistencies during the data-collection process.

Speaking during the official receipt of the equipment were the Chief Technical Adviser for the 2026 Census, Dr. Colins Opiyo; Director of Communication and Public Relations, Samuel Ansumana; and Officer-in-Charge of Operations and Logistics, Moses Johnson.

The officials described the arrival of the 25,000 tablets and accessories as an important step in the technical and operational preparations for the Census.

They noted that the devices would be central to the digital data-collection process, enabling Census personnel to collect, verify and transmit information more efficiently from the field.

The move to a fully digital Census is expected to provide Stats SL with faster access to field information and strengthen monitoring during the enumeration exercise. It will also reduce some of the challenges associated with transporting, storing and processing large volumes of paper questionnaires.

Stats SL said it remains committed to delivering a credible, accurate, reliable and inclusive 2026 Population and Housing Census that reflects the realities of people and communities across Sierra Leone.

The institution is continuing to strengthen its systems, processes, technology and technical preparations to ensure that the Census meets required standards of quality and integrity.

The data generated from the exercise will provide important information for national planning, policymaking, resource allocation and evidence-based decision-making.

Stats SL has also appealed to members of the public to play their part in ensuring the success of the national exercise by providing accurate information to Census personnel and cooperating with enumerators when they visit households.

The institution stressed that the success of the Census depends on the active participation and cooperation of citizens, noting that every household and person must be properly counted.

As part of the national Census schedule, Census Night will be observed on 1 December 2026, while the actual counting and enumeration will begin on 2 December 2026.

Stats SL has adopted the campaign message “Leh Den Kont You Ooh” as part of its public mobilisation efforts, encouraging all residents to participate fully in the exercise.

The arrival of the 25,000 tablets therefore represents not only an investment in Census technology but also a significant step towards producing reliable population data to guide Sierra Leone’s development planning in the years ahead.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 14th October 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)