Freetown, 21st January, 2026 — The All People’s Congress (APC) has raised fresh concerns over the ongoing census process, pressing Statistics Sierra Leone to honor its commitment to a special technical meeting promised during earlier engagements.
In a letter addressed to the Statistician General, APC National Secretary General Lansana Dumbuya reminded the institution of unresolved issues following the completion of phase one of cartographic mapping. According to the APC Census Technical Committee, questions remain about the allocation of mapping teams across districts and the accuracy of data captured so far.
During the initial engagement, APC representatives demanded clarification on why districts in the south and east were assigned disproportionately more mapping teams compared to those in the western area, north, and northwest. They also criticized the presentation for failing to provide enumeration area (EA) data disaggregated by chiefdoms, despite phase one being completed.
Dumbuya noted that Statistics Sierra Leone had promised to convene a special technical meeting to address these concerns, but a week has passed without any communication. He stressed that this meeting is distinct from the Census Advisory Committee gathering scheduled for January 22, 2026, and should not be considered a substitute.
“The composition of the Census Advisory Committee is quite different from the APC Census Committee, and a meeting of one should not be considered to address the concerns of the other,” Dumbuya wrote.
Despite the frustrations, the APC reaffirmed its commitment to an inclusive, transparent, and credible census process that adheres to international best practices. “We look forward to a productive meeting in the coming days to address our concerns,” Dumbuya added, while assuring Statistics Sierra Leone of the party’s highest regards.
The exchange underscores the political sensitivity surrounding Sierra Leone’s census, a process seen as critical to national planning and resource allocation.
