House of Representatives Seeks Clarity on 2022 Census Results
The House of Representatives has summoned the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) to address concerns surrounding the official results of Liberia's 2022 National Housing Population Census. The move comes amid concerns about a potential constitutional crisis over electoral boundaries and thresholds.
The House seeks clarity regarding conflicting population figures of 5.2 million and 5.7 million reported by LISGIS. The discrepancy has raised concerns about the accuracy of the census data and its potential impact on electoral district reapportionment.
The decision to summon LISGIS was triggered by a communication from Gbarpolu County District #2 Representative, Luther S. Collins, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Elections and Inauguration and Judiciary. The committee initiated the summoning of LISGIS to resolve discrepancies in the census data.
During a public hearing, officials of the National Elections Commission (NEC) informed the committee that the institution has not officially received any report from the 55th Legislature regarding the census conducted by LISGIS to inform its decision. The Director General of LISGIS, Richard Ngafuan, mentioned that they are currently conducting stakeholder engagements to holistically review the census report and determine what decision to be made on the census.
The Committee's report stated that the reapportionment of electoral districts is not achievable until the conclusion of the validation is done by the Management of LISGIS and the final report is submitted to the Legislature for consideration.
LISGIS has been summoned to testify before the House in late October. The institution is expected to provide clarity on the conflicting population figures and the status of the census report. The Committee emphasized that electoral district reapportionment would be delayed pending the completion and submission of the validated census report.
