David Kombat, Deputy Government Statistician
The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) says it will recruit about 70,000 people as enumerators for the upcoming national population and housing census slated for June 28.
The Service says the recruitment will be done at the district level and the exercise expected to be carried out within two weeks.
The nationwide enumeration exercise was originally scheduled for March, but had to be rescheduled due to some technical challenges.
Speaking to the media, the Deputy Government Statistician, David Kombat, said he expects the process to be smooth.
“The census day, as has been announced, is 28th June 2020. Usually, the field workers will start with some preparatory activities, listing the structures before that day.
“What is going to happen on that day is that, they will be going out to enumerate households, population and persons who do not have permanent places of abode as well as persons who will be found in hotels and guest houses. Then, after the 28th night, they will move from structure to structure to interview the households. The enumeration itself will last for a period of two weeks,” he explained.
Change in date
Earlier this year, the GSS had served notice that there was the possibility that the 2020 population and housing census could be delayed if some existing on-field challenges were not resolved.
The census was initially set to begin on March 15 2020, with the first two weeks expected to be used for listing, a process that comprises the zoning and coding of the number of houses and structures to be covered in the census.
But observations from the completed field census mapping exercise necessitated the change in date.
The Service says it now needs to redesign technological interventions required for complete coverage, enhanced accuracy and timely release of the census results.
Funding
Last year, the government released GHC25 million towards the 2020 population and housing census, an amount which is part of the GHC45 million allocated in the 2019 budget.
This was revealed by the Government Statistician, Professor Samuel Kobina Annim, at the inauguration of the National Census Publicity, Education and Advocacy Committee for the 2020 Population and Housing Census.
Prof Annim stated that the processes for the release of the remaining GHC20 million had been initiated.
