2021 Population and Housing Census extended again
The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has, for the second time, extended the deadline of the ongoing 2021 Population and Housing Census (PHC).
The extension, which would end on Friday, July 30 2021, is to ensure that they enumerate all the targetted households for the exercise.
Briefing the media in Accra on July 19 2021, the Government Statistician, Professor Samuel Kobina Annim, said that, so far, only six per cent of the listed households are left to be counted.
“As at the end of the sixth day of the initial seven-day extension, that was scheduled for the 12th to the 18th of July 2021, of the households that were listed, during the first phase of the exercise, 94% of the expected households have been enumerated.”
“The 2021 population and housing census is characterised and resonates with the SDGs, which suggests that we should not leave anyone behind.”
“So, we are going to work assiduously to ensure that the remaining six per cent are duly counted,” he added.
He said the census officials would concentrate on the Greater Accra Region since the region currently has 75% of households captured.
For the next extension phase, he said, the GSS would focus on 25 districts, including Ga West, Ga North, Kpong-Katamanso, Ledzokuku, Tema West, and La Nkwantan Madina Municipal.
Other areas are Ga East, Ayawaso West, Shai Osudoku, Awutu Senya East, Krowor Municipal, Ningo-Prampram, Gomoa East, Wassa Amenfti Central, Ashaiman, and others.
He indicated that to ensure full completion, the GSS has been making physical visits to districts where they have observed that the quality of data was being compromised or completion is far below expectation.
Prof Annim advised the public to continue using the GSS call centre to ensure that there is verification and validation of the information received from enumerators.
“We will continue to urge all persons in Ghana to make themselves available because this is an exercise that is done to decimally, and once we miss this opportunity, it’s going to take us another 10 years,” he pleaded.
It would be recalled that GSS extended the exercise to end on Sunday, July 18.
READ ALSO: Don’t Demand Money From Census Enumerators – Bawumia Tells The Public
Meanwhile, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has asked persons who request payment from census enumerators to desist from such unpatriotic practices.
He also asked those who refuse to be counted to cooperate with enumerators.
Dr Bawumia explained that it was a legal obligation and civic responsibility of everyone resident in the country, including foreigners, to provide accurate information on their households and should be done without coercion or inducement.