The Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Madam Kenyeh Barlay, Statistician-General Andrew Bob Johnny, and UNFPA Country Representative Kunle Adeniyi on Tuesday led a high-level joint monitoring visit to the ongoing 2026 Mock Population and Housing Census household enumeration exercise in Hill Station, Freetown.
Accompanied by senior government officials, UNFPA representatives and Statistics Sierra Leone staff, the team toured several Enumeration Areas. They observed enumerators at work, interacted with field personnel, and assessed the progress and quality of the exercise.
The visit forms part of wider efforts by the Government and its partners to ensure the census meets international standards. Officials checked the digital data collection system, operational procedures, staff performance and any emerging challenges, offering guidance where needed.
Madam Kenyeh Barlay reaffirmed the Government’s firm commitment to a successful census. She described it as a vital national exercise that will provide reliable data for evidence-based planning, informed policy-making, fair resource allocation and sustainable development. The Minister praised Statistics Sierra Leone and its partners for the progress made and urged field staff to maintain professionalism, accuracy, integrity and dedication.
Statistician-General Andrew Bob Johnny stressed that the Mock Census is a critical rehearsal for the full nationwide Population and Housing Census planned for December 2026. He explained that the exercise is testing methodologies, digital tools, field procedures, logistics, supervision systems and data quality measures. Lessons from the mock exercise, he said, will strengthen preparations for the main census.
UNFPA Country Representative Kunle Adeniyi renewed the agency’s support for the Government and Statistics Sierra Leone. He noted that the Mock Census is essential to ensure the main count produces high-quality, reliable and timely population data that will guide national development priorities and help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
The joint visit highlighted the strong partnership between the Government of Sierra Leone, Statistics Sierra Leone, UNFPA and other development partners working towards a credible and transparent 2026 census.
As the Mock Census household enumeration winds down in selected areas across the country, Statistics Sierra Leone has thanked residents for their cooperation.
The institution is urging all households in the selected communities to continue giving accurate and complete information to enumerators. The success of the census depends on every household taking part so that no one is left behind in shaping Sierra Leone’s future.
