By: Haja Hawa Koroma
Statistics Sierra Leone did an official announcement of the provisional results for the 2021 mid- term population and housing census which is said to be the first ever digital census in Sierra Leone on Tuesday 31st May 2022.
The result shows the Total National Population of Sierra Leone to be 7,541,641, which includes the total male population of 3,716, 263 and the total female population of 3,825,378 respectively. The Eastern Region which consists of Kailahun, kenema and kono, has a total Regional Population of 1,939,122. The North East, which comprise of Bombali, Falaba, Koinadugu and Tonkolili has a Regional Total of 1,316,831. For the North West, that is Kambia, Port look and Karene the Total Regional Population is, 1,186,050. The South, which consists of Bo, Bonth, Moyamba, Pujehun has a Total Regional Result of 1,830,881. Western Area, which includes the Western Urban and Western Rural consists of a Total Regional Population of 1,268,757.
The COR-SG/CEO & Chief Census Officer, Prof. Osman Sankoh did the official announcement of the provisional population and housing census results. In his statement he mentioned that, Stats SL would like the public to value the significant contributions made by specific people and institutions to the overall process of the first ever digital census in this country.
He added that this new digital census system is very effective and Sierra Leone should be proud to have benefited from it. In the tablets that were used for the data collection some coordinates were embedded in them, kind of like a DNA thing. So wherever the field numerators were sent they will have no choice but to go to the specific locations assigned to them otherwise the tablets will not respond because they have to be at the assigned location for the coordinates to respond. This way they were able to track all the field numerators who collected the data for the census and this ensured a flawless and authentic result.
Mr. Osman Sankoh stated that, Stats SL gave every citizen and other nationals of the country the opportunity to be counted so long as they slept in Sierra Leone on census night. He added that, they went to the extent of announcing an official 14 day extension, gave a mop up period and extended the mop up period because they wanted the people of S/L to exercise their civic responsibility and civic rights for them to be counted as the information that they are given by the people when put together can help the government in the planning for better opportunities for every Sierra Leonean.
He revealed that although there were sets of people that were encouraging Sierra Leoneans not to be counted for one reason or the other, yet, the citizens of this country did no adhere to them and partake on the census and allowed them to be counted in numbers. He stated that, some Sierra Leoneans are raising the question of how they did their census as a lot of them were not counted, asking who they counted. He narrated that a lot of communities drove their field staffs out of their communities saying that they don’t want to be counted, and that left them with no option but to stop going to those kinds of communities. Later, some people from the said communities called their toll free line and said they want to be counted and they counted the ones that were interested. He extended his appreciation and thanks to the people who allowed them to be counted because it was as a result of them they were able to announce results.
Prof Sankoh further narrated that, some people may question why the population in Freetown is not the amount they may expect, but this was as a result of a lot of citizens who thought it fit to travel to their regional homes as they preferred to be counted at their homes than in the city were they reside. And because this census was an housing and population census they counted people were they slept the night of the census and their residence was not primarily paramount to the count.
He added that, this census is beneficial to every citizen including foreign investors and compatriots, as they may not need to conduct certain surveys in order to actualize their projects because this census covers every area and all they need is to request for the data and they can carry on with their projects without conducting surveys.
Prof. Osman Sankoh rendered his appreciation to everyone that made it possible for this census to become a success. He extended special thanks to his staff, and the World Bank for their support and also to the president who stepped in to support them when the World Bank seized with their support.
