Population and Housing Census: Impeding exercise may result in 12 months imprisonment – Kobina Anim
The Government Statistician has cautioned that anyone who prevents enumerators from numbering structures as part of the nationwide Population and Housing Census would face the full rigours of the law.
Speaking on the Probe on JoyNews, Sunday, Prof Samuel Kobina Anim noted that individuals could be fined, jailed or both, if they refuse to partake in the exercise or provide false information.
“There is no room for a person or group of persons in Ghana to abstain from the census exercise. Indeed, clause 54 of the Statistical Service Act (2019) has the caption, Offences and Penalties, and it mandates everyone in Ghana to give us accurate data willingly once we approach the person.
“Inciting a group of people not to participate in the census has a far-reaching consequence that is, a maximum of 200 units, a 12-month imprisonment or both,” he told JoyNews’ Emefa Apawu
Prof Kobina Anim disclosed that since the exercise started, some enumerators who visit various homes to label or list structures have come under attack in an attempt to bar them from carrying out their duties.
A situation he believes threatens the success of the ongoing exercise.
He revealed that the police have begun investigations into cases of assault against the enumerators in parts of the country.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has appealed to media houses to educate citizens on the benefits of the 2021 Population and Housing Census.
He said the exercise would not be successful if the media does not support it fully with public education.
“I want to plead with you to take some time and help educate the public. We have just about a week to the main exercise. I want you in the media to lift the census conversation, so that all of us succeed in getting the necessary data to plan for development,” Kojo Oppong Nkrumah pleaded.
Source: Ghana News
