National Census on Course

….says Liberia and international partners

MONROVIA-Nov 12-Despite a few challenges faced by the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services-LIGIS, on the execution of the National Census,  the government, and international partners said the process is on track.

Every ten years, a Census is held in Liberia. The president of Liberia,  Dr. George Weah declared Friday, November 11 as a national holiday to enable the commencement of the Census.

Earlier on Friday, many citizens and residents complained about the delay in the start of the process.

But late Friday, a statement issued by the Liberia government and its international partners said that the  Census was on track.

“The Government of Liberia and International Partners wish to reaffirm their continued commitment to the successful conduct of the ongoing 2022 National Population and Housing Census by the Government which runs from11 to 22 November 2022,” it said.

The population and housing census is among the most complex and massive peacetime exercises a nation can undertake.

According to the Liberian constitution, a Census involves the complete enumeration of the population in a country.  In addition to that, it generates a wealth of data, including numbers of people, their spatial distribution, age, and sex structure, as well as their living conditions and other key socioeconomic characteristics.

These data are critical for good governance, policy formulation, development planning, crisis prevention, mitigation and response, social welfare programmes, and business market analyses, among others.

“Given this, the International Community wishes to encourage all not to politicize or disrupt the ongoing 2022 National Population and Housing Census,” it added.

Liberia and international partners while encouraging citizens and residents to cooperate with the process, also expressed dismay over reports by others calling for the process to boycott.

“We have observed with dismay calls by some elements within the country to boycott the Census. Despite some initial challenges, the Census is now on track and has commenced as of 11 November 2022. Any further disruption would lead to delays in, or possible abortion, of the Census which will benefit no one,” it said.

The statement further said that the Partners, led by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), are providing technical and financial support to the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services, the agency of the Government with the authority to conduct Census taking, to ensure the census house listing an enumeration is completed within the timeframe of 11- 22 November 2022 as announced by the Government.

In addition to that, the International Partners’ support is aimed at ensuring that the 2022 National Population and Housing Census is of high quality and upholds international principles and standards. The unique advantage of the census is that it represents the entire statistical universe, down to the smallest geographical/ administrative area of a country or region,” it added.

They also appealed to citizens and residents to remain peaceful as the Census goes on.

“The Government of Liberia and International partners wish to appeal to all citizens, residents and visitors to peacefully support the ongoing 2022 National Population and Housing Census by welcoming the Census Enumerators to their homes and facilities and to allow them to do their work. Remember that Census takes place every 10 years and the process gives an individual the opportunity to be heard and counted. So let’s make this Census count.

The statement signed by Liberia’s Finance Minister, Samuel D. Tweh, Jr. , Mr. Niels Scott UN Resident Coordinator Ms. Bidisha Pillai, Resident Representative UNFPA Mr. Khwima Nthara, Country Manager World Bank H.E Urban Sjöström Ambassador Kingdom of Sweden Mr. Jim Wright Mission Director USAID.

Early Saturday, a number of people were seen with loudspeakers encouraging citizens to be patient as the process was ongoing.

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