AYV News, November 4, 2026
The Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, has urged citizens across Sierra Leone not to relocate in an attempt to be counted in another district during the 2026 National Population and Housing Census, stressing that individuals will be enumerated according to where they spend the night of December 1, 2026.
Minister Bah made the statement on the second day of the Civic Day Series Townhall in Kabala, where he provided updates on preparations for the national census and called on citizens to cooperate with enumerators.
He explained that census officials would visit households to collect information on everyone who spent census night in the home. He cautioned that anyone who travels to another district after census night in the hope of being counted there would be making a futile effort.
Using an example, the Minister said a person who spends census night in Kailahun but subsequently travels to Kambia would still be recorded in Kailahun, as that was where the individual spent the night of December 1.
Minister Bah also highlighted the deployment of digital tablets in the enumeration process, noting that the technology would enhance transparency, accuracy and accountability while helping prevent manipulation of census data.
He disclosed that December 1, 2026, has been designated as census night, with the actual enumeration exercise scheduled to commence on December 2. Approximately 30,000 census personnel are expected to be deployed nationwide to ensure that every individual is accounted for.
Addressing concerns about the exercise, the Minister dismissed claims that the census was politically motivated, emphasising that it had no connection with the outcome of the 2028 general elections.
He further explained that accurate population data was essential for national development planning, particularly in determining the equitable distribution of public resources and development projects across the country.
Minister Bah called on residents of Kabala and citizens nationwide to embrace the census, cooperate with enumerators and provide accurate information when census officials visit their homes.
He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to conducting a transparent and credible census, describing reliable population data as vital to effective governance, equitable resource allocation and sustainable national development.
