There is no doubt that a Population and Housing Census plays a crucial role in National Development and without it, it would be difficult if not impossible for any nation to effectively and efficiently implement policies and programmes for development.
The Population and Housing Census is the official enumeration of all persons and all living quarters in a country at a given time. In another perspective, it implies collection, compilation, evaluation, publication and dissemination of demographic, social and economic statistics relating to a population.
The first Population Census in Ghana was conducted in 1891.
The significant use of a Population and Housing Census cannot be overemphasized as far as development is concerned. It enables the Government to allocate funds equitably and properly for community programmes and services including education, housing, and healthcare for the elderly and children.
Besides these, District Assemblies use census data as a yardstick for the allocation of funds for the construction of new roads, community libraries, provision of water and other projects. Additionally, organizations rely on census data to provide social services.
Business organizations also use the data, as a tool for locating factories, shopping centres, banks and offices which in turn create jobs for unemployed in the country.
Developed countries also need census data when planning technical and economic assistance to third world countries. Census data also guide the Electoral Commission in determining constituency boundaries. The Central Government and District Assemblies need census data to enable them to monitor the structure of the population in order to make policy planning and administration more effective.
It is against this backdrop that the Government of Ghana intends conducting a Population and Housing Census in March next year.
This would be the second time Ghana is combining a Population and Housing Census.
The first one was done in 2000. It is therefore, imperative for all residents to participate actively in the exercise by staying at their areas of residence to be counted, giving accurate information and cooperating with the enumerators and supervisors as this would benefit all Ghanaians.
The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) should therefore be well equipped with enough resources and logistics to carryout the exercise. Briefing the Vice President, John Mahama sometime ago about the preparation towards the Census exercise, the Government Statistician Dr. Grace Bediako indicated that about 25 million people in an estimated five million households are expected to be covered nationwide and this would require technical equipment, field vehicles and the training of about 45,000 field personnel to cover 36 enumerator areas nationwide.
According to her the Census was estimated to cost 48 million dollars and Government was expected to provide half of the money while the country sources the other half from its development partners.
Government should therefore, view the exercise as important and equip the GSS to enable it to undertake the exercise successfully.
The Media have crucial role to play in all this by informing and educating the citizens on the importance of the Population and Housing Census and encouraging people to participate in it.
Information to be disseminated by the Media should be well packaged to persuade everybody to take part. Ghana has an enviable record when it comes to conducting census exercises.
The United Nations and other bodies have in the past singled out Ghana for praise because of her capacity to carry out such programmes successfully.
Let us all join hands to make the Population and Housing Census a successful one so that together as Ghanaians we will benefit from it.
BY: SAMUEL ADADI AKAPULE, A JOURNALIST, GNA, BOLGATANGA.
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