The Ghana Statistical Service has cited the impending compilation of a new voters’ register for the 2020 general election as one of the reasons for the postponement of the 2020 population and housing census, from March to June.
Government Statistician, Prof. Samuel Annim, explained that the census would require a period of less mobility of persons hence the need to allow the EC to complete its exercise.
The Electoral Commission has announced a tentative date of between April and May to compile a new voters’ register amidst stiff opposition by some political parties and civil society groups.
Prof. Annim believes the census period spanning June to July, should also help the EC access some data to be captured, which will be relevant for a complete voters’ information for the 2020 general elections.
The Service has already announced that it will recruit about 70,000 people as enumerators for the upcoming national Population and Housing census slated for June 28, and that the recruitment will be done at the district level with the exercise expected to be carried out within two weeks.
Change in date
Earlier this year, the Ghana Statistical Service 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.
Disbursement
Last year, government released GH¢25 million towards the 2020 Population and Housing Census, an amount which is part of the GH¢45 million allocated in the 2019 budget.
This was revealed by Government Statistician, Prof. Samuel Kobina Annim at the inauguration of the National Census Publicity, Education and Advocacy Committee for the 2020 Population and Housing Census.
Prof. Annim further stated that processes for the release of the remaining GH¢20 million had been initiated.
