At Master Trainers Workshop… Stats-SL Boss Emphasizes Importance Of Professional Training
By Abdul Rahman Bah
On October 14, 2026, Statistician General of Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL), Andrew Bob Johnny, reaffirmed the importance of professional training, accurate data collection and public confidence as the country intensifies preparations for the 2026 Population and Housing Census.
Johnny made the remarks on Wednesday, October 14, 2026 at Family Kingdom in Aberdeen, Freetown, during a training workshop for master trainers and data quality managers under the theme of strengthening skills and improving data quality for the 2026 census.
With census counting scheduled to begin on December 2, 2026, the Statistician General stressed that the quality and credibility of the national population data would depend significantly on the competence of census personnel and their ability to follow standardised procedures.
He warned that mistakes made during training could have far-reaching consequences if they were repeated across thousands of households during the national exercise.
Johnny therefore urged master trainers to familiarise themselves thoroughly with census concepts, definitions, questionnaires and operational procedures. He encouraged participants to ask questions whenever they encountered difficulties, emphasising that no individual should be ashamed of seeking clarification when learning new methods and technologies.
He also stressed consistency, insisting that census personnel must apply the same approved standards across the country, regardless of whether they are operating in Freetown, Bombali, Pujehun or remote communities.
According to him, professionalism must remain central to the exercise, with enumerators demonstrating patience, impartiality and respect for the linguistic, cultural and educational differences of the people they encounter.
The Statistician General disclosed that the national cartographic mapping exercise had been completed, marking a significant milestone in preparations for the census. The mapping process identifies communities, localities and structures and divides the country into enumeration areas to guide personnel deployment and help prevent omissions and duplication.
He further explained that a pilot exercise had been conducted to identify operational challenges, assess procedures and draw lessons that could improve the implementation of the December enumeration.
On technology, Johnny indicated that approximately 29,000 devices required for the exercise were in the institution’s custody. However, he cautioned that the availability of equipment alone would not guarantee success without adequately trained personnel capable of using it effectively.
The training workshop comes as Stats SL works to strengthen the technical capacity of its personnel ahead of one of the country’s most significant national data-collection exercises.
The census is expected to provide essential information for national development planning, public service delivery, infrastructure investment and resource allocation. Its credibility will therefore depend on whether every community and household is properly accounted for.
Beyond logistics and technology, public cooperation will be crucial. Stats SL must ensure that citizens understand the purpose of the exercise and feel confident providing accurate information to census personnel.
As preparations continue, Johnny’s emphasis on training, consistency and professionalism underscores the need for a census that produces reliable data capable of guiding Sierra Leone’s development priorities.
For Stats SL, the ultimate test will not simply be completing the census, but delivering accurate, credible and comprehensive figures that policymakers and citizens can trust.
