MAXIMISE GAINS FROM CENSUS (AUGUST 9, 2010)

AS the government intensifies its efforts to achieve the ‘Better Ghana’ agenda, the importance of introducing appropriate policies and development initiatives cannot be downplayed.
It is well known that one bane of development in developing countries is the lack of credible data to effectively inform the formulation of policies and development initiatives.
In many instances, well-intended development initiatives or policies do not make the desired impact because they are not inspired by appropriate data usually leading to the introduction of policies that do not reflect the realities on the ground.
Thus, the Housing and Population Census is intended to make development policies and initiatives more relevant by providing sound, credible and pertinent information to drive the country’s development initiatives.
As the country prepares for the 2010 Population and Housing Census, it is important to emphasise the need to ensure diligence and accuracy in the data collection process.
Last Friday, efforts towards the 2010 census were taken a step further when the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, declared Sunday, September 26, 2010, as the date for the 2010 Housing and Population Census Night.
While a census has been defined as “the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population”, the Census Night is considered to be the reference point around which the entire enumeration process revolves.
In other words, every activity of the exercise such as the administration of questionnaires to elicit demographic data will be referenced to the Census Night.
The last time the country had a Housing and Population Census was in 2000 and by organising one this year, the country will be keeping with the recommendation of the United Nations that a census be held at least once every ten years.
Indeed, ever since 1891, population censuses have been conducted in the country at approximately every ten years with the exception of 1941 when it was interrupted as a result of the Second World War.
The high cost involved in the organisation of a census makes it imperative that all efforts possible are made to ensure that data and information gathered are credible and truly reflect the realities of the time.
This year’s census is estimated at GH¢64 million and already the government has released half of that amount with the remaining half expected to be provided by local and international donor agencies and partners.
Given the cost involved, it is important to ensure that the citizenry is well educated on the importance of the census and also the need to provide true and credible information.
In a country with a not-too-impressive literacy rate, it will be very helpful for the Ghana Statistical Service to act proactively to ensure that any misinformation about the purpose of the census is quelled in a very swift manner.
It is worthy to note that the service has already partnered the media to ensure that the appropriate messages are sent out to the citizenry.
While the DAILY GRAPHIC lauds this move, we also urge Ghanaians to show interest in the issues related to census and support it with a very positive attitude in our quest to build a better Ghana.