Prof. Kwabena Annim, government statistician at the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), has disclosed the extension of deadline for the 2021 Population and Housing Census to Sunday, July 18.

According to him, this will give enumerators the opportunity to resolve and complete outstanding enumeration in some areas.

Prior to this, the exercise, which commenced on Monday, June 28, was billed to end today, July 11, 2021, across all sixteen regions in the country.

Prof. Annim, addressing the press revealed that, “data on 80% of the expected households has been received as at the 12th day of enumeration”.

He further explained that the Service has received from 12 regions with the North East region recording the highest figure.

“Currently, the completion rates in some districts based on the data received by the 12th day indicate that the enumeration will have to continue.

“These include Ga West, Ga North, Ayawaso West Municipal, Adentan Municipal, Ga East, Ledzokuku, La Nkwantanang-Madina, Kpone Katamanso, Shai Osudoku and Tema West”.

Public urged to participate in census

Furthermore, he disclosed that “field closure activities have begun in Supervisory Areas where work has been completed.”

“GSS wishes to assure members of the public who are yet to be counted that no one will be left behind. Members of the public who are unwilling to be enumerated [should] cooperate with enumerators”.

He further appealed to the public to get the word out there for people to get involved in the exercise.

“For members who are yet to be counted, please make yourselves available by using the call-back card or informing your neighbours when you will be available”.

Meanwhile, the Ashanti Regional Statistician, Dr. Kobina Abaka has disclosed the harrowing experiences of some census officials. Expounding on the issues, he explained that they were attacked in the course of duty.

Attack on census officials

Among the incidents recorded, he revealed that some census officials attacked in the Region, included a case of attempted rape.

“Two of the incidents happened in Suame. One had to do with attempted rape, but the Police acted swiftly so the culprit has been arrested already.

“And then there was another lady who on returning from the field boarded a car; not knowing that the occupants were criminals. So, they beat her up, threw her down, and took her belongings away.

“And then in Nhyiaeso, we had another issue where the lady was nearly attacked. We were told they stabbed her slightly and took away all her belongings including the tablet and her phone and money. Everything on her has been taken away.”

Justifiably, he noted that these are recurring issues census officials have had to deal with over the years.

That notwithstanding, to resolve the problem the census office has put in place measures to deal with such incidents.

“For example, the two incidences in Suame, we had to assign additional person to go and support the work because initially they were traumatized so they couldn’t go to the field immediately.”

He further mentioned that there were still areas to be covered by the census officials. These areas include, Atwima Kwawoma, Obuasi Municipal, Afigyae Kwabrae South i.e Kordie, Ejisu Municipal, and Amansie South.

“Amansie South because there’s a mining company there called Asanko Mining Company. Yes, the enumerators had access to the place late and so work is still ongoing there. But if you take aside these ones, the rest, whatever is left, is just a small portion”.