Ghanaian population to hit 25 million next year
By Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, Ghanadot
Accra, July 21, Ghanadot - Ahead of the 2010 population and housing census to be
conducted in Ghana, the Government Statistician, Dr. Grace Bediako has projected the country’s population to hit
25 million.
This projection is higher than the current 20
million people,
according to the 2000 census.
Dr Grace Bediako, intimated that preparations towards the
2010 Census are far advanced, with 75 per cent of the work
completed.
She was optimistic that all preparatory work would be
completed before the exercise took off on a day to be
designated by the President as the Census Night.
Dr Bediako disclosed this in Accra that so far all the
necessary preparatory work in the northern part of the
country had been successfully completed, with work in the
southern sector on course.
She said at the moment attention was focused on finalising
the questionnaires for the exercise and the training of
experts to assist in the actual collection of data.
The Government Statistician said the actual outcome hinged
on the mapping of the areas to be covered, stressing that
the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies
(MMDAs) would be zoned into smaller areas to ensure
efficiency during the exercise.
Additionally, a strategy to systematically train government
officials to work in collaboration with (MMDAs) had been put
in place.
On whole, Dr. Bediako revealed that about 50,000 people from
government agencies would be recruited for the exercise.
The homeless and street dwellers, she said, would be
enumerated first on Census Night by officials who would comb
the streets and towns to ascertain their population as of
that given time.
An Assistant Chief Statistician, Mr Kofi Agyemang-Duah,
noted that after data had been collected from the homeless
and street dwellers, they would be presented with
certificates of enumeration in order to avoid double
counting.
Touching on the importance of the Census Night, he
explained, was to ensure that all persons, either Ghanaian
or foreigner, within Ghana's geographical boundary as of 12
midnight of the Census Night would be regarded as being part
of the population of Ghana.
On Census night, he said, various events, such as religious
activities, the sounding of sirens and church bells, would
go on as a signal to residents to inform them of the event.
The Assistant Chief Statistical urged all persons who would
either be visiting friends or relatives to leave details of
their biological information with their hosts to avoid
double counting.
Ghanadot
