The 2021 Population and Housing Census exercise spearheaded by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) comes to an end today, Sunday, July 11.

The 15-day nationwide exercise commenced on Sunday, June 27 after its launch at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle.

Government Statistician, Professor Samuel Kobina Annim during the launch, stated that the population census is needed to aid in the recovery and development of the economy and future planning.

In view of this, a number of enumerators were deployed nationwide. About 5,392 enumerators were deployed to the Northern Region.

President Akufo-Addo, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, former President John Dramani Mahama, Speaker Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, Minority leader Haruna Iddrisu are among many leaders of the country who have been counted.

The President and other government officials have since encouraged members of the general public to avail themselves and participate in the exercise.

According to former President Mahama, partaking in the exercise is imperative "because it is necessary to know how many people live in your country so that you can make better provisions in terms of social amenities and in terms of how the economy is managed, and also the spread of development so everybody gets a fair share of the national cake.”

Unfortunately, one of the enumerators partaking in the 2021 Population and Housing Census exercise, Faisal Issah, met his untimely death at Saaka in an accident in the Upper East Region. His colleague, Gifty Abane, however sustained some injuries.

Recently, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) bemoaned the low participation rate and minimum attention given to the Population and Housing Census exercise nationwide.

General Secretary of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, in a press statement stated that since the commencement of the exercise, there has been little publicity while enumerators have also not been seen in some areas in the country.

Information from the Ghana Statistical Service revealed that about 56.6 per cent of earmarked households have been counted nationwide. The completion rate varies between 38.9% for the Greater Accra region and 80% in the North East region.

The Service has, therefore, entreated persons who are yet to be counted to call the service and request for the number of the officer assigned to their area.

Head of Publicity, Education, and Advocacy at the Ghana Statistical Service Mr. Nyarkoh-Larbi indicated that such people could call the Ghana Statistical Service’s hotline, which is 0800426426, and request the details (call-back card) of the supervisor or enumerator assigned to their area.

Touching on the likelihood of an extension in order to count the entirety of the Ghanaian population on the back of the massive ground yet to be covered by the end of July 11, Mr. Francis Nyarkoh-Larbi, indicated that “a census does not have strict guidelines,” and that, as time goes on, the data will be collected to fulfil the purpose as required.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Statistical Service will at 3pm today hold a press briefing at the forecourt of its headquarters to brief the nation on the exercise.