Census: Fanteakwa South District Successfully Launches 30 Days Countdown To Census Night

Listen to this article Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The fanteakwa South Census District as part of the 272 census districts has successfully launched the 30 days countdown to Census night in the district ahead of the 2021 Population and housing census.

The all important ceremony which took place at the hall of the district Assembly, today, 28th May at Osino revealed the readiness of the district and Ghana at large to conduct the upcoming 2021 Population and housing Census.

The District Census Officer, George Asiedu, revealed the structures put in place by the Ghana Statistical Service to conduct the first digital Census in Ghana. He said that technological advances, process digitalization and enhanced and effective training, being the hallmarks of Ghana 2021 PHC, have been integrated into the census process to ensure the production of quality data as follows:

1. Developed and tested an online multi-tier system for checking accuracy of data during data collection. This is an in-built consistency checks in the computer assisted programme for interview (CAPI); 

2. Introduced three levels of complementary training at the levels of trainers and two at the level of enumerators and supervisors. These are self-learning, live virtual and face-to-face training;

3. Improved, increased access and broadened the scope of training resources through the involvement of academics from four of our public universities and practitioners to produce the finalized questionnaires, field officers’ manual, trainers guide, power point presentations, videos and audios;

4. Increased the number, widened the scope and automated the modes of assessment to ensure selection of both knowledgeable and committed field staff for data collection;

5. Completed training of 130 Master, 1774 National and 8775 Regional Trainers; 

6. Conducted three Trial Censuses and two Trial Post Enumeration Surveys

7. Provisioned 75,000 tablets to be used during training of 75,000 enumerators and supervisors and, subsequently, data collection. 

Our work in the domain of publicity, education and advocacy have led to the following milestones:

1. Constituted the National Publicity, Education and Advocacy Committee

2. Inaugurated RCICs and DCICs

3. Developed the 100 uses of the census data document as a result of advocacy strategy;

4. Institutionalized the regular production of the quarterly newsletter series;

5. Conducted Census Seminar to showcase the innovations and the expected outputs of the 2021 PHC;

6. Sensitized media across all three ecological zones using our Census Media Kit;

7. Engaged kids during the Christmas festivity; and

8. Held a development partners forum to share importance of the census data and solicit for strategic partnerships;

9. Launched the 100 days to Census Night activities;

10. Continued various PEA activities via various fora and local media channels, including social media.

The GSS has successfully undertaken two Trial Post Enumeration Surveys in preparation for the main exercise.

Loading of applications and census materials on the tablets has been done. Training and field logistics have been deployed and distributed to all the 272 statistical districts.

He therefore made a passionate appeal to the media to:

1. Do a daily count down of the Census from tomorrow to the Census Night scheduled for 27thJune 2021

2. Focus reporting and education on daily sequential activities of the Census specified below

3. Report on key statesmen of the country scheduled for interview hourly during enumeration

4. Avoid all forms of inflammatory remarks that will impede the success of the Census  

5. Contact the GSS Census website for the necessary information on the census via https://census2021.statsghana.gov.gh/  

In the next three days, from Monday 31st May to Wednesday, 9th June is scheduled for training of enumerators and supervisors, listing of structures will be done from 13th−25th June 2021. The Census Night scheduled for Sunday, 27th June 2021 is the specific point in time to which all enumeration refers. Thus, the Census Night will be used as a reference point for all questions that will be asked in the census. Thus, all enumeration will refer to the Census Night.  

The scheduled fourteen-day duration of data collection which starts the evening of the Census Night is referred to as the Census period from 28th June to 11th July 2021.  

The District Coordinator, Mr John Vardy, chairman on the day also added that this year’s census is unique and called on all to get involved. He elaborated on the slogan, “You Count, Get Counted!”

However, the District Chief Executive, Hon. Kwasi Ntori Adjabeng also urged the media to use their platform to promote the activity rather than distracting it.

There was also a very educative, informative and entertaining drama fro the Osino SHS drama group on sensitizing the public on the much awaited Population and Housing Census.

Present at the ceremony were the District Committee on Census, staff of Fanteakwa South district Assembly, District Directors of Health and Education, NCCE, and teachers of Osino SHS.

By: https://radiooneghana.com