At Global Symposium in U.S.A Stats-SL Boss Showcases ArcGIS Pro Use In 2026 Census

By Abdul Rahman Bah

San Diego, California, USA – 13 July 2026 –

Sierra Leone’s Statistician General and Chief Census Officer, Andrew Bob Johnny, is representing the country at the prestigious ESRI National Geospatial Symposium (NGS) in San Diego, California, United States, following an official invitation from the National Geospatial Symposium Committee.

The high-level international gathering is taking place from 13 to 17 July 2026 alongside the globally recognised ESRI User Conference (UC), bringing together government officials, geospatial experts, policymakers, academics, development partners, and private sector leaders from across the world to explore innovative solutions for addressing global development challenges through geospatial technology.

Held under the theme, “Building Geospatial Ecosystems to Address Common Challenges,” this year’s symposium focuses on strengthening collaboration between institutions, promoting the integration of geospatial data into governance, and encouraging the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to improve evidence-based planning and decision-making.

As Sierra Leone prepares to conduct its 2026 Population and Housing Census, Andrew Bob Johnny’s participation is expected to further strengthen the country’s efforts to modernise official statistics through digital innovation and geospatial technologies. During the conference, he will engage in strategic discussions with international experts, participate in technical sessions, and exchange ideas on how countries are using advanced mapping technologies to improve census operations, disaster management, urban planning, environmental monitoring, and public service delivery.

A major highlight of his participation will be a presentation showcasing Statistics Sierra Leone’s preparations for the 2026 Population and Housing Census. His presentation will focus on how geospatial technologies are being integrated into census mapping, field operations, data collection, and statistical production to improve the accuracy, efficiency, and reliability of national statistics.

The symposium also provides Statistics Sierra Leone with an opportunity to establish stronger partnerships with international institutions, share experiences with other national statistical offices, and learn from global best practices in statistical modernisation. The engagement is expected to contribute significantly to the institution’s long-term vision of building a modern, technology-driven national statistical system capable of producing timely and reliable data for national development.

The Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), organisers of the symposium, is widely recognised as the world’s leading developer of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Redlands, California, ESRI develops software that enables governments and organisations to collect, manage, analyse, and visualise geographic information for informed decision-making.

Statistics Sierra Leone is a participant in ESRI’s Statistical Modernization Programme and has increasingly integrated ESRI’s technologies into its national statistical operations. The institution currently utilises platforms such as ArcGIS Pro for advanced spatial analysis and digital mapping, ArcGIS Online for cloud-based management and sharing of geospatial information, and ArcGIS Enterprise for securely managing large-scale geographic datasets across institutional operations.

These technologies are playing a central role in the implementation of the 2026 Population and Housing Census by supporting digital cartography, enumeration area mapping, field coordination, quality assurance, and data management. Their adoption reflects Statistics Sierra Leone’s commitment to improving the quality, efficiency, and credibility of official statistics, while embracing international standards and technological innovation.

The participation of Sierra Leone’s Statistician General at the ESRI National Geospatial Symposium underscores the country’s growing commitment to digital transformation and the use of geospatial intelligence to support sustainable development, evidence-based policymaking, and effective governance. The knowledge and partnerships gained from the symposium are expected to strengthen the successful implementation of the 2026 Population and Housing Census and contribute to the broader modernization of Sierra Leone’s national statistical system.