The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) in its bid to ensure a hitch-free 2010 population and housing census has appealed for the assistance of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to make the national event successful and memorable. To this end, the GSS is to negotiate 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, 2010. Government Statistician, Dr Grace Bediako, who made the appeal on Tuesday when she called on the Military High Command at Burma Camp in Accra, said the Service was very much aware of the depth and scope of security 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. Mrs Bediako also sought the permission of the military high command for officials of the service to enter the garrisons and facilities of the armed forces to sensitize the officers and men on the exercise. The SS, she said, also wanted the Armed Forces to assist the service make the census night a reference point for many people, by flying some of the aircrafts on the night of the event Lieutenant General Peter Blay, Chief of the Defence Staff of the GAF, said the GAF was a dependable partner for national development, adding, the forth coming 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 polices... And we the armed forces are ready to provide all the practical assistance we can offer to support this exercise”, he said. The CDS assured the Government Statistician that the barracks were open to its officials “because the Ghana Armed Forces was part of the country and there will not be any form of resistance in any of the garrisons”. “We would cooperate 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 such officials call on all other security agencies in which ever location they find 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 of 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. Source: GNA