Ghana media urged to publicize 2010 census exercise

The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), gearing up for the 2010 Population and Housing Census, has called on the media to educate people to take part in the exercise.

Mr Omar Seidu, Regional Statistician, said at a training programme in Sunyani on the census enumeration on Saturday that the media must sensitize and inform people about the importance of the exercise in nation building.

“The media will play an important role in making the exercise successful and a complete and accurate count is in the hands of the media”, he added.

The programme was organized for media personnel, regional and district census implementation committee members towards the effective promotion of public awareness and provision of positive publicity throughout the census process.

Mr Seidu said it was important people co-operate with enumerators and to avoid politicization of the exercise. He also advised all census officials taking part in the exercise to contact personnel of the Service in case of difficulties.

Giving assurance how prepared the Service was for the exercise, the Regional Statistician said, maps, questionnaires and manuals to be used by field personnel were ready for the exercise. He added that field personnel were also being trained.

Mr Seidu said publicity on the census had started and regional and district census officers have been set up.

He said the listing of houses and structures would be carried out from September 20 to 26, the Census night.

Alhaji Mohammed Issah Asagri, Brong Ahafo Regional Director of the National Commission or Civic Education (NCCE), who presided, urged census officials to endeavour to reach every person so they could fully be informed and participated in the exercise.

Mr Francis Yankey, Head of Training and Recruitment and Mr Godwin Odei Gyebi, Statistician at the Field Operations Unit of the Service, educated the participants on many issues including some frequently asked questions of the census exercise.

Source: GNA