Statistics SL, raises concern over wrong data collection

By Zainab Kanu

Statistics Sierra Leone has raised a concern over the way and manner in which institutions and some donor partners are conducting various statistical data in the country.

He informed Journalists that Statistics Sierra Leone is the only agency for public mobilization and public activities when it comes to conducting surveys. He also warned that it is a crime for any person of group of person to conduct a survey without the consent of Statistics Sierra Leone, as they are the only institution that has the proper structure and the mechanism to conduct a survey that is credible.

He also warned that some of these incredible statistics are been used by organizations to portray only the negative image of the country. “We want the public to know that any survey presented by another body without consulting Statistics SL is not credible” Koroma noted.

 Koroma also said that they now have a sound policy put in place to carry out their activities with their financial operations intact

At a press conference held yesterday at its headquarters in Freetown, the Acting Statistician General Mohamed King Koroma said his institution has a work plan that is guiding them toward the end of 2011 and 2012 which is the National Strategic plan of work and Activities.

Inside the work plan, he revealed that they have to work on two surveys which are the Intergrated Household Survey and the Child Labour Survey. Presently he said they are only conducting the Labour Survey for the PRSP 2 that was supposed to be funded by donor partners, but was funded by the government of Sierra Leone, as they plan to start the Integrated Household Survey next year.

Head of Labour and Statistics, Samuel Turay said between the month of August and September there has been a slight increase in commodities as according to their survey conducted, the monthly Consumer Price Index increased from 174.39%  in July to 176.35% in August this year resulting in a 1.13% increase in inflation rate this month.

Nevertheless, he said this reflects a monthly increase that is lower that the previous month, as the stable exchange rate might be the factor behind the slight increase in prices, with the exception of transport and communication indices, the indices for all other main components increased on a composite basis, there was increase in the indices for goods such as food items.

He said at Statistics they are treating all burning issues seriously and at national level, as they have no right to cast blame on the political situation in the country, but  they are making the survey known for national and authoritative reference so that proper and adequate structure will be put in place.