The committee to implement the 2010 Population and Housing Census in the Ashanti region has been inaugurated in Kumasi. Ashanti regional minister, Kofi Opoku-Manu, says the active participation of metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies in the exercise is crucial for effective implementation. He says the MMDAs as direct beneficiaries of the census, are expected to offer the needed support to the Ghana Statistical Service to achieve the set objectives. Mr. Poku-Manu noted results from the census would be used to monitor and evaluate important national developmental programmes, such as the National Identification Programme and the Health Insurance Scheme. He said “the census will also provide results that would be a useful reference to ensure equity in the distribution of the nation’s resources, government services and representation at the national, regional and district level activities and elections. The 2010 census will further enable the country to revise its electoral areas and constituencies”. Government Statistician, Dr. Grace Bediako, told Luv Fm that even though the preparatory and planning stages of the census are underway, the actual date for the census is still under Cabinet consideration. She noted “there is a long preparation phase and planning phase and we have been at this for more than two years. The actual date is something that cabinet is considering – we have to consider so many factors: movement of people, rainfall pattern, school and session and out of session – and I’m sure that soon cabinet will consider this and the President is the one who announces the date of the census”.Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh