By: Fatmata Grace Okekearu, Bo City
Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL) has hosted its 2025 Annual Council and Executive Management retreat on January 25 at Njala University Campus, Mokonde. The event provided an opportunity to review the institution’s achievements and challenges from 2024 and to chart a strategic course for 2025 through the presentation of divisional work plans.
The retreat emphasised collaboration, capacity-building, and improved service delivery to strengthen Stats SL’s operational efficiency. It brought together council members, senior management, and key institutional representatives to engage in discussions aimed at enhancing decision-making and staff welfare.
In his opening address, the Statistician-General and CEO of Stats SL, Andrew Bob Johnny, who also serves as the council’s secretary, highlighted the importance of updating council members on management’s plans for the new year. He commended Professor Bashiru Koroma, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Njala University and a council member, for facilitating the retreat.
Council Chairman Moses Williams chaired the session, expressing gratitude to council members for their unwavering support over the past year. He stressed the importance of open and interactive dialogue during the retreat to ensure productive deliberations.
The retreat featured comprehensive updates from various directorates on key initiatives, including the Decennial Population and Housing Census, the ongoing Sierra Leone Integrated Household Survey (SLIHS), the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), currently in its household listing phase and the 50×2030 Agricultural Survey and other critical data collection activities.
Dr. Albert Kenneth Bangura-Will, Project Coordinator for the Harmonising and Improving Statistics in West Africa (HISWA) initiative, outlined the project’s accomplishments, including progress on Stats SL’s new headquarters and the provision of insurance for field staff. He expressed optimism for an extension of the project, which is set to conclude its first phase in December 2025.
The Deputy Statistician-General, Lansana Kpewolo Kanneh, and council representatives from Sierra Leone’s five administrative regions also participated, offering valuable insights and contributions to the discussions.
Stats SL reaffirmed its commitment to producing high-quality, timely data to inform decision-making, shape policies, and monitor development programs and indicators. The institution views its mandate as essential to supporting national progress and sustainable development.
As the retreat concluded, participants left with a shared vision for 2025, underscoring the importance of collective effort in achieving Stats SL’s goals.
