Government will deploy Security Personnel to patrol all areas during the scheduled Population and Housing Census.
This is to ensure that the exercise takes place in a safe and secure environment with minimum or no disruption in the daily activities of enumerators.
Speaking in Accra at the launch of 30-Day Countdown to the Population and Housing Census, President Akufo-Addo allayed fears that the census will divide or polarize the nation on grounds of boundaries, religion and politics.
He, therefore, urged the people to provide complete and accurate information to enumerators as the information provided will be strictly confidential.
The 30-day Countdown begins the final preparation towards the 2021 population and housing census.
Ghana statistical service was unable to conduct a census in March last year due to the Coronavirus Pandemic.
Field data collection will start with the listing of structures from June 13. The census night which has been set for 27th June will see persons in Transit and lodging in institutions such as hospitals, hotels guest houses and Hospital inpatients will be counted.
However, the enumeration of persons in the household, and long Stay institutions will be done from 28th June to 11th July.
Government Statistician, Professor Kobina Annim said all logistical requirements have been provided to all Census officials to ensure a smooth exercise.
Minister of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development, Dan Botwe, assured the Statistical Service of the full support and cooperation of his ministry to make the 2021 PHC a success.
Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, who is also the Chairperson of the National Census Steering Committee, said the 2021 census will be the most successful in Ghanaian History. He added that his Ministry awaits the outcome to inform future decision-making of government.
President Akufo-Addo appealed to the nation to support the exercise describing it as a national project devoid of anything partisan. He encouraged the media to play a vital role in the success of the census.
The President admonished both the mainstream and Social Media users not to use their medium to create controversy and confusion around the exercise.
The 2021 Population and Housing Census will be the first “Digital Census” in Ghana’s history that will guarantee the availability of real Census data during and after the exercise.
It will produce data on who we are, how many we are, as well as where and how we live.
The data are expected to be used by the government, private sector, businesses, civil society organizations, development partners, special interest groups, academia, media, households, and other stakeholders to conduct research and generate information for general use and to inform specific policies and their implementation.
Story filed by: Bright Ntramah
