The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has dismissed claims that it has launched a portal for recruitment in respect of a 2023 census.

The GSS noted that it has not authorised anyone or any agency to conduct any recruitment exercise on its behalf.

The Service, in a release issued on March 14 stated that “It has come to the attention of the Management of Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) that some unscrupulous persons have launched a fake portal captioned: “GHANA STATISTICAL SERVICE RECRUITMENT PORTAL 2023: Approved Application portal For The Ghana Statistical Service Job Recruitment of new staff for the 2023 Census.”

“These unscrupulous individuals are reportedly promoting the said fake recruitment portal on social media and are misleading/enticing unsuspecting members of the public to pay recruitment fees to them,” the release said.

They added that "all GSS fieldwork is always communicated through official channels such as press statements, media advisories or publications on the GSS website (https://statsghana.gov.gh/).

"Additionally, recruitment for projects is always launched and conducted via the website of GSS, as in the case of the upcoming IBES and GLSS8," the release stated.

According to the Service, population and housing censuses are decennial conducted every 10 years. As a result, the next census is anticipated to be conducted in 2031 given that the most recent Population and Housing Census (PHC) was carried out in 2021.

“Members of the public are hereby informed that GSS HAS NOT launched any recruitment campaign for any 2023 Census," it stressed.

The release revealed though, that the Service has currently opened a recruitment portal for an upcoming Integrated Business Establishment Survey (IBES) Phase 1 and the Ghana Living Standards Survey Round 8 (GLSS8) which can be accessed via the link https://ibes2023.statsghhub.com/

GSS urged members of the public not to deal with any unscrupulous people but to visit the Services' website for information.

"Further, anyone caught in the illegal act of using the name of the Service for fraudulent recruitment operations will be handed over to the Ghana Police Service for prosecution.

Members of the public are also urged to report any person who has collected moneys from them with the view to securing them jobs with GSS," it concluded.