Hon. Abdul Kargbo Drops Warning Shot

By Aaron Parker

Hon. Abdul Kargbo, the Minority Leader of the main opposition in Parliament, has confirmed that the All People’s Congress (APC) will actively participate in the forthcoming Housing and Population Census.

This assurance was made during a Parliamentary session where the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mohamed-Lamin Tarawally, presented the Constitutional Instruments necessary for legislative approval of the census scheduled for next year.

 This census will mark the second population count in Sierra Leone within a decade, following the contentious Mid-Term Census conducted in December 2021. Traditionally, population and housing censuses are conducted every ten years, but political disputes over the reliability of the 2015 census data prompted the earlier 2021 census. The unconventionality from the regular schedule led to significant controversies, including the withdrawal of the World Bank from the process and public calls from some APC leaders urging their supporters to boycott the census.

Addressing Parliament, Hon. Kargbo stressed the importance of adherence to standard procedures for the upcoming census. “We recognize the flaws that marred previous censuses,” he said. “As the opposition, we want to make it clear that we expect this census to be conducted according to established protocols. We are committed to fully participate and will monitor the process closely.”

Hon. Kargbo also cautioned that any deviation from proper procedures would prompt protests from the APC. “We will not hesitate to take action if we observe any irregularities how the census is conducted,” he stated.

The APC’s assurance to engage fully in the census process aims to ensure transparency and credibility, addressing past controversies and strengthening the importance of an accurate population count for national planning and development.