The Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) says all is now set to conduct of the 2022 National Population and Housing Census across the country.
LISGIS Deputy Director General, Wilmot F. Smith informed a press conference that the rumors circulating about the postponement of the 2022 census is untrue and encouraged the public to welcome LISGIS filed staff in their respective homes during the enumeration phase in October of this year.
Mr. Smith said the Liberian government through LISGIS has transferred US$3 million to the Census Basket Fund hosted by UNFPA to complete the government contribution for the conduct of the Census.
“This 2022 Census is the fifth and the first fully digital census to be conducted in Liberia since independence. So, it is important to note that the government has contributed more money to the Census basket fund than earlier promised and we see this as a major boost and giant step towards the successful conduct of the Census,” he stressed.
According to him, LISGIS is currently working with the Legislature to derive a joint resolution which he said will empower the Executive Branch to issue a proclamation announcing a final date to conduct the main count respectively.
The LISGIS Deputy Director General further announced that in consonance with government’s short-term employment scheme, they received from the public a little over 19,000 applications which he emphasized will be vetted and incorporated to provide their services to the Census process.
The LISGIS Deputy Director Smith has also revealed that the Mapping process which is referred to as “structure marking” ended on February 28, 2022, with a total of 19,226 Enumeration Areas (EAs).
He however pointed out that the GIS Technicians and consultants are currently conducting a data clean-up exercise with the expectation of producing 14,500 enumeration areas after the ongoing clean-up exercise.
He explained further that prior to the completion of the mapping process, a Pre-Test was carried out in December 2021, using a sample size of 228 enumeration areas, disclosing that the reason for said process was to test the questionnaires, gargets, and all of the materials and tools which will be sued for then main census.
Meanwhile, Mr. Smith has also revealed that government through LISGIS has received from the Ghana Statistical Servicer (GSS) a total of 21,000 tablets and power banks for the conduct of the main enumeration phase of the 2022 Census.
He added that LISGIS is currently preparing the tablets for data collection which include Installation of Maps and Geo-codes and other important software (CSPro).
It can be recalled that on September 25, 2020, the government through the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS), in partnership with the UNFPA, Launched the 2021 National Population and Housing Census (NPHC) Project.
During the launch at the Ellen Johnson Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, President George Weah underscored the importance of the census, emphasizing that it directly impacts socio-economic service delivery for citizens at the grassroots level.
He stressed that statistics are very important for planning and implementing development programs for every nations with Liberia being of no exception, adding, “If you cannot measure accurately, then you will not be able to manage the fair distribution of resources and delivery of services.”
“So, to address poverty effectively, we must use targeted interventions that can be measured, and consult the people about their own development. It is therefore crucial that we mobilize the entire population to come forward and be counted, so that the results of Census 2021 can be used as a tool to improve service delivery,” the Liberia chief Executive asserted.
According to him, the conduct of a census is guided by a constitutional provision that mandates the Executive Branch of Government to undertake the exercise every ten years, adding that since it is not every government administration that conducts a census, the NPHC will be a part of his legacy to the people of Liberia.
“In addition to fulfilling this crucial constitutional requirement, the crux of our commitment on this issue is to ensure that development is equitable and in the public interest. So, I urged every citizen to fully cooperate with the exercise as it is for the general good of all,” he added.
