Persons who fail to participate in the 2021 Census could be fined or imprisoned-Gov’t statistician
Some Ghanaians across the country are believed to have made up their minds not to get counted in national exercise.
The Government statistician, Professor Samuel Kobina Annim has noted that persons who intend not to participate in the 2021 Census could be fined or imprisoned.
According to him, reports have reached his outfit that many Ghanaians across the country have made up their minds not to get counted in the all-important national exercise.
He spoke in Accra yesterday, June 27, 2021, to commemorate the Census Night which is a precursor to the main census.
Prof Annim mentioned specific areas that have so far been uncooperative to his officials.
“Persons in specific areas like; Talensi, Bongo, Bolgatanga districts and some districts in the Greater Accra region, specifically, the Ledzokuku and Krowor districts are declining to partake in the exercise.
“We are urging them to be aware that there is a legal obligation to the Census, but the Ghana Statistical Service has so far not pursued this legal dimension.
“We are urging you because it is your civic responsibility, otherwise Section 54 of the Statistical Service Act, 2019 (Act 1003), which indicates that once you decline to participate in the activity or you urge other persons not to take part, the consequences are either imprisonment or a fine,” Mr. Annim indicated.
He further mentioned categories of persons who would be targeted for counting within the census night. They included travelers, rough sleepers. Guesthouse/hotel guests, etc.
For travelers, he mentioned that enumerators would be stationed at various lorry stations to count them.
“Specifically, tonight we’re going to target persons who will be in transit traveling long journeys. Specifically, something beyond eight hours, which will mean that they’ll start from the later hours of today and get to their destination in the early hours of tomorrow..,” he concluded.
The last Population and Housing Census (PHC) was carried out in 2010, which was the fifth census conducted in Ghana since independence. Previous post-independence censuses were conducted in 1960, 1970, 1984, and 2000.
The 2010 PHC was carried out with reference to 26th September 2010 as the Census Night. Enumeration was completed in November 2010 and data processing ended in May 2012.
The 2021 PHC however begins officially today, June 28, 2021 and expected to end on July 11, 2021.
