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Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) have, on behalf of the Ghana Statistical Service, given the assurance that data collected during the 2021 Population and Housing Census (PHC) will be treated with the utmost confidentiality when it is collected during the exercise on June 27.

They have thus, encouraged residents in their various communities to actively participate in the exercise which is intended to generate statistics that are essential for policy and planning purposes.

Also, they have advised Ghanaians not to politicise the impending exercise but support it to help in the gathering of accurate data needed for evidence-based decision-making and planning to boost national development.

Yesterday, the MMDAs across the country held various activities to commemorate a 30-day countdown to the national exercise, with emphasis on participation of everyone wherever they find themselves during the period as the accurate census data would be valuable and essential for economic development.

The launch brought together some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), representatives of the various security agencies, heads of departments, traditional authorities and some assembly members, among others.

Countdown

As part of the countdown, a number of activities have been planned to engage the various interest groups and the public before the Census Night on June 27, 2021.

The days leading-up to census night will be used to generate awareness before the night of June 27 which will also mark the beginning of the enumeration phases of the 2021 Population and Housing Census.

From June 13 to June 20, enumerators will start with the listing exercise where field officers would be assigning serial numbers to all structures, either residential or non-residential within the country and also list households living within the residential structures.

The enumeration of census data begins from June 13, 2021 to July 11, 2021.

Also on the census night, other activities such as brass band procession, bonfire, blowing of siren, among others, would be organised in all localities to signal the start of the exercise.

Oath of Secrecy

At the event at Ayawaso Central Municipal Assembly, Kweku Zurek reports that the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Alhaji Mohammed Quaye, gave an assurance that the personal details collected from people would not become public knowledge when it was given to the census enumerators because it would only be handled by persons who had taken the Oath of Secrecy under the Statistical Service Act 2019 (Act 1003).

"Please bear with the census officials as they go about their business and provide complete and accurate information to them. Remember the information you provide to the Census official is strictly confidential.

“It will be handled only by persons who have taken the "Oath of Secrecy" under the Statistical Service Act 2019 (Act 1003)," Alhaji Mohammed said.

All on board

The Presiding Member of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), Mr Joseph Korto, who represented the MCE for Tema, Mr Felix Mensah Nii Anang-La, said the census was one exercise that should be devoid of any political or religious colouring to ensure its maximum success, Benjamin Xornam Glover reports from Tema.

He thus urged the leadership of all political parties in the metropolis, assembly members, religious leaders and the media to educate their members and community members on the importance of the census to enable them to participate fully in it.

Data for SDGs

The Tema Metropolitan Census Officer, Mr Isaac Tetteh Angmore, said data generated from the exercise would aid in policy and decision-making, socio-economic development, research as well as achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Mr Angmore noted that the census would provide updated socio-demographic, economic and housing information on Ghana and generate data that could be used for decision making by businesses, government, civil society organisations and development partners and, therefore, appealed to Ghanaians to collaborate with the enumerators who would visit them.

The Metropolitan Coordinating Director for Tema, Alhaji Shehu Kadiri, appealed to assembly members in the metropolis to entreat all people in the various electoral areas to make themselves available for the upcoming national population and housing census.

Religious leaders

The Tema Metropolitan Chief Imam, Alhaji Adam Abubakar and Rev. Emmanuel Kwesi Ofori, Pastor in Charge - Central Assemblies of God Church G Community 4, advised Muslims and Christians to take part in the 2021 Population and Housing Census for the actual population to be captured for effective planning.

Both clerics pledged to use their platforms at the mosque and in their churches to educate the public on the need to participate in the exercise.

All logistics supplied

From Sunyani, Biiya Mukusah Ali reports that a total of 305 census enumeration areas have been designated for the upcoming 2021 population and housing census in the Sunyani Municipality.

Also, a total of 466 personnel made up of enumerators and field officers are expected to be trained to undertake the exercise in the municipality.

The Sunyani Municipal Census Officer, Mr Samuel Kwame Awuah, disclosed this during the launch of the 30-day countdown to census night in Sunyani, the Bono Regional capital.

He said the municipality had received all the logistics and materials needed for the successful exercise.

The Bono Regional Minister, Mrs Justina Owusu-Banahene, who launched the Sunyani Municipal Assembly 30-day countdown to census night, urged the public to provide accurate information to the census enumerators to ensure accurate data.