Grace Bediako, Government Statistician
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19th August, 2010
Military Asked To Back Census
The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) in its bid to ensure a hitch-free 2010 population and housing census, has appealed to the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to make the national event successful and memorable.
To this end, the GSS is negotiating with the GAF to provide security for census enumerators, particularly in conflict-prone areas, and the transportation of census materials to inaccessible parts of the country during the Census Night scheduled for September 26.
Government Statistician Dr. Grace Bediako, made the appeal on Tuesday when she called on the Military High Command at Burma Camp in Accra and said the service was very much aware of the depth and scope of security that the GAF was providing for the country.
She said her outfit sought to collaborate with the military to “have all grounds covered” during the enumeration exercise.
Dr. Bediako also sought the permission of the Military High Command for officials of the service to enter garrisons and facilities of the Armed Forces to sensitize the officers and men on the exercise.
“We also want the Armed Forces to assist and make the Census Night a reference point for many people, by flying some of the aircraft on the night of the event,” she said.
Lieutenant-General Peter Blay, Chief of the Defence Staff, said the GAF was a dependable partner for national development, adding that the forthcoming event was an opportunity for the armed forces to assist in the country’s quest for development.
“Any country that seeks to develop should know the size of its population to make appropriate policies And we, the Armed forces, are ready to provide all the practical assistance we can offer to support this exercise,” he said.
The CDS said the barracks were open to census officials “because the Ghana Armed Forces is part of the country and there will not be any form of resistance in any of the garrisons.
“We would co-operate with you and make it easy for your officials to have access to our facilities”.
He also gave the assurance that the military would ensure that every census enumerator was safe to go to any part of the country, but advised that the officials should on the security agencies in whichever location they found themselves, for adequate security briefings before embarking on the exercise.
Lt-Gen. Blay said the military was ready to assist the GSS in transporting whatever they wanted but that the GAF needed specifics in their needs.
He said he would instruct his subordinates to make available a cross section of troops at a durbar for sensitization on the census, wishing the SS success in the exercise.
To this end, the GSS is negotiating with the GAF to provide security for census enumerators, particularly in conflict-prone areas, and the transportation of census materials to inaccessible parts of the country during the Census Night scheduled for September 26.
Government Statistician Dr. Grace Bediako, made the appeal on Tuesday when she called on the Military High Command at Burma Camp in Accra and said the service was very much aware of the depth and scope of security that the GAF was providing for the country.
She said her outfit sought to collaborate with the military to “have all grounds covered” during the enumeration exercise.
Dr. Bediako also sought the permission of the Military High Command for officials of the service to enter garrisons and facilities of the Armed Forces to sensitize the officers and men on the exercise.
“We also want the Armed Forces to assist and make the Census Night a reference point for many people, by flying some of the aircraft on the night of the event,” she said.
Lieutenant-General Peter Blay, Chief of the Defence Staff, said the GAF was a dependable partner for national development, adding that the forthcoming event was an opportunity for the armed forces to assist in the country’s quest for development.
“Any country that seeks to develop should know the size of its population to make appropriate policies And we, the Armed forces, are ready to provide all the practical assistance we can offer to support this exercise,” he said.
The CDS said the barracks were open to census officials “because the Ghana Armed Forces is part of the country and there will not be any form of resistance in any of the garrisons.
“We would co-operate with you and make it easy for your officials to have access to our facilities”.
He also gave the assurance that the military would ensure that every census enumerator was safe to go to any part of the country, but advised that the officials should on the security agencies in whichever location they found themselves, for adequate security briefings before embarking on the exercise.
Lt-Gen. Blay said the military was ready to assist the GSS in transporting whatever they wanted but that the GAF needed specifics in their needs.
He said he would instruct his subordinates to make available a cross section of troops at a durbar for sensitization on the census, wishing the SS success in the exercise.
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