By: Joseph Momoh, Reporter D.S
Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL) recently held a stakeholder engagement meeting in Mara Chiefdom, Bombali District, as part of its national Pilot Cartographic Mapping initiative. The event gathered local leaders, community members, and stakeholders to discuss the project’s objectives, with Mara Chiefdom being one of four strategically selected locations for this pilot phase.
Chiefdom Speaker Pa Mustapha Jalloh welcomed the Stats SL delegation, expressing gratitude for the collaboration. “Mara has wholeheartedly hosted Stats SL field staff since their arrival, and we will continue to do so,” he stated.
Paramount Chief PC Bai Bairoh Mabolleh Anshami III expressed pride in Mara Chiefdom’s selection for this significant initiative. He urged community members to cooperate fully and encouraged local leaders to raise awareness about the project throughout the chiefdom. “Our people should see the field staff as one of their own,” he remarked.
Samuel Ansumana, Stats SL’s Director of Communication and Public Relations, thanked the paramount chief and stakeholders for their warm reception. He emphasized the need for community awareness, urging participants to spread the message to every household.
Amadu Sheriff, Principal Statistician for the Northern Region and field team lead in Mara, assured community leaders that his team would adhere to local protocols. “We will take utmost care to respect the traditions and culture of the chiefdom to foster cooperation and trust,” he said.
The pilot cartography exercise aims to gather geographic data as a precursor to the nationwide census cartography. It is being conducted in four strategically selected locations: Kissy Teng Chiefdom, Dema Chiefdom, Mara Chiefdom, and Freetown East II and III, with Mara chosen for its accessibility as a rural area.
The meeting was attended by various local leaders, including Chiefdom Youth Leader Hassan S. Kamara, Section Chief Pa Alimamy Turay, Mammy Queen Ya Amie Tarawalie, Farmer Representative Ibrahim Sorie Tholley, Headman Sullay Tarawalie, and Police Representative Abdul Kamara. Other attendees included Chiefdom Imam Pa Alhaji Abu Bakarr Tholley, women’s leaders, representatives from the bike riders’ union, and numerous community members.
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