Ghanaians have been urged to actively participate in the ongoing 2021 Population and Housing Census (PHC) which is currently underway. Prominent personalities who have already taken part in the exercise are encouraging all Ghanaians to co-operate fully with census officials for a successful enumeration exercise.

As the ceremonial head of the land, President Akufo-Addo entreated all persons in Ghana to avail themselves for the headcount that commenced on the eve of June 27, 2021.

According to him, it is important to take part in the exercise because it will “enable us to plan effectively for the development of the country”. The President was the first person to be officially enumerated on the first day of the 2021 PHC after the celebration of the census night.

“It is an extremely important exercise and I am appealing to each and every one of you, cooperate with the enumerators… They are doing an exceptionally sensitive and important job and they need the cooperation of each and every one of us”.

On his part, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who also went through the exercise, pleaded with respondents to cooperate and not demand any payment from Census Enumerators. He described the act as “unpatriotic”.

“Therefore, I call on everybody not only to be part of the exercise, but also, provide a more credible and quality data for our dear country. The Census aims at achieving complete coverage and quality data”.

Message from Ex-Presidents

Similarly, Former President John Dramani Mahama also urged Ghanaians to avail themselves to be counted after going through the exercise on Monday, June 28, 2021 at his residence in Accra.

“Census officers are going round asking questions about the number of people who live in a particular household. I want to encourage everybody to participate in this census”.

Furthermore, Ex-President, John Agyekum Kufuor, who has also taken his turn in the ongoing enumeration exercise described it as very important since it provides accurate statistics for national development.

As such, Mr. Kufuor urged all citizens to get involved and be counted, saying, the PHC transcended all tribal, gender and religious persuasions. He stressed that “to assert your right, you must be counted”. He further stated that the nation must know the size of its population to facilitate governance and for the equitable distribution of social services.

“Knowing the number of a population is not new, it is an ancient thing occurring even in the Bible where Mary and Joseph went to their hometown to be counted and that was when Jesus Christ was born”.

Message from the Legislature

Meanwhile, Parliament has also pledged its support for the PHC with a call on all citizens to participate in the national exercise. The Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, who had already taken part in the exercise highlighted the significance of the census in national development. According to him, the exercise is necessary for planning, budgeting and coordination of state response to the challenges facing the country.

“The population and housing census is so critical to survival – quality of life – and the development of the country. I therefore call on everybody to stand up and be counted”.

Meanwhile, the legislature is expected to play an active role in the exercise as Members of Parliament (MPs), will actively participate, mobilise, educate and sensitise their constituents on the ongoing exercise.

So far, Ghana has conducted five post-independent censuses in 1960, 1970, 1984, 2000 and 2010. However, the last two combines both the population and housing censuses. The 2021 PHC, thus, is the 6^th post-independent census and the third Population and Housing Census in Ghana. The 14-day nationwide exercise will end on July 11,2021. Ghanaians Ghanaians