By
Kodjo Adams, GNA
Accra, Nov. 12, GNA
– Government has allocated an amount of GH¢45 million for the preparatory
activities of the 2020 Population and Housing Census, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, the Minister
of Finance, has said.
Government has
invested $1 million in the Trial Census ahead of the main Census in 2020.
Mr Ofori-Atta said
the support forms part of government’s commitment to resourcing the Ghana
Statistical Service (GSS) to enable the Service to produce official statistics
for development plans.
The Minister
announced this on Tuesday to mark this year’s African Statistics Day in Accra.
The event was held
under the theme: ” Everyone Counts: Quality Statistics for Better
Management of Forced Displacement in Africa”.
The day which falls
on November 18, is celebrated to sensitize the public about the important role
statistics play in all aspects of social and economic life.
Mr Ofori-Atta said
the 2000 and 2010 Census has underscored several development initiatives
including the conduct of the national elections in 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016
and the allocation and creation of Metropolitan, Municipal and District
Assemblies.
He said government
is expectant that, the 2020 Population and Housing Census would provide a
reliable database for policy reviews and systematic improvement in the
implementation of government’s intervention such as ‘Planting for Food and Jobs
and the Nation’s Building Corps.
He urged the public
to accord the Census Officers the needed co-operation in the upcoming 2020
Population and Housing Census for a successful exercise.
“It is every
individual’s civic duty to support the 2020 Census because correct and accurate
data will assist our national, metropolitan, municipal and district authorities
to make effective plans for the country’s educational, health and other
socio-economic services”, he added.
He said government
is committed to the enhancement of the Ghana Statistics Department Plan which
aims to align the development of the country’s statistical system with the
wider poverty-focused national development programmes and global reporting
requirements.
Professor Samuel K.
Annim, Government Statistician, said the GSS has engagement with the Office of
National Statistics, UK, Statistics Denmark, and the Norwegian National
Statistical Office to learn from best practices and enhance on the country’s
statistics.
He said the Service
remains resolute in adhering to the tenets of the production and the use of
quality statistics and engagement with institutions including the International
Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
GNA
