Key Things to Note About the 2021 Population and Housing Census – Enumerators/Trainers

The 2021 Population and housing census are scheduled to kick start in June/July this year. About 75,000 census Field Officers (11,000 Supervisors, and 64,000 Enumerators) to be trained. A Post Enumeration Survey (PES) will be carried out after the general enumeration to evaluate coverage. Plans for data processing have already been outlined and the Listing of houses/structures would be carried out two weeks preceding Census Night (27th June 2021). As a 2021 census field officer, There some key things you should know about the exercise. These things will guide you to carry out your work as expected. Below are some of the key things to note as an enumerator, regional Trainer, or National trainer.

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Table of Contents

What is a Population Census?

A Population Census is the complete enumeration of all persons in a country at a specified time. The enumeration also implies the collection, compilation, evaluation, analysis, publication, and dissemination of demographic, social, and economic statistics relating to the population.

What is a Housing Census?

A Housing Census is the complete enumeration of all living quarters (occupied and vacant) in a country at a specified time. This enumeration also implies the collection, compilation, evaluation, analysis, publication, and dissemination of statistical data pertaining to these living quarters and the occupants.

The housing conditions of the population are one of the most important indicators of well-being. Data from the housing Census can be used by Government Agencies such as the Ministry of Works and Housing, the Town and Country Planning Department, the Local Government, and other interested bodies for analyzing the housing situation both in terms of stock and quality.

This will facilitate the estimation of the housing deficit and future housing requirements. Such analysis is necessary for the formulation of national housing programmes and their implementation.

The data from the housing Census will also have commercial uses. It will assist the construction industry, institutions involved in housing finance, and manufacturers of housing fixtures and equipment to make realistic projections of the demand for housing and assess their activities within the overall housing programme.

Persons to be enumerated during the 2021 PHC

The following persons must be enumerated during the 2021 PHC:

All persons who spent the Census Night in a household in Ghana;
All persons who spent the Census Night in an institution (Group Quarters) in Ghana; and
All outdoor sleepers and those in transit in Ghana (floating population) on Census Night.

Persons not to be enumerated during the 2021 PHC

The following persons must not be enumerated:

All usual members and other persons who did not spend the Census Night in Ghana;
Persons born after the Census Night; and
Persons who died before the Census Night

Why are we conducting the 2021 Census?

A Population and Housing Census has many uses. In the first place, it will give us the total number of persons and housing types and their characteristics in every town or village or a given small area in the country. This information will be of great help to the Central and Local Governments in planning various educational, health, housing, and other social services.

The information that will be derived from the Census will also help the private sector, including businesses to plan their activities, which will be of benefit to the economic development of this country.

In addition, international bodies, including Development Partners (DPs) and Non-Governmental Organizations will also utilize the Population and Housing Census data when planning for Ghana.

Since the last Census in 2010, there have been many changes in the structure of the population. In this regard, there is a need for a Census to update the sociodemographic and economic data in the country and ascertain changes that have occurred in the population structure since 2010.

What is new in the 2021 PHC?

The use of Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) to ensure efficient data, collection, management, and processing. This will help to receive real-time data and also minimise the data processing period so that processed data could be released shortly after field data collection.
Use of Geographic Positioning System (GPS) to capture the location (coordinates) of all structures and also all localities to ensure complete coverage and also improve data analysis.
Sanitation module has been expanded to get more information to help solve the sanitation challenges in the country.
Information Communication Technology (ICT) Module has been expanded to ensure the measurement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators.

The Census Process

This section is meant to give an overview of what a Census process involves. Census taking is a complex, large-scale operation involving three main stages

Pre-enumeration Phase: Good planning and advance preparation are vital to the success of every Census. All resources (human, logistics, technology, etc.) necessary for the conduct of the Census must be planned for so that the Census will be carried out at the appropriate time and sequence. During this stage all major decisions about the Census are taken, for instance, the geographical or mapping work and preparation of documents and other such activities are
undertaken.

Enumeration Phase: This is the stage where the required data are collected from the people who make up the population of the country. A number of carefully planned procedures and methods are set in place that direct Census staff exactly how the required information is to be collected.

Post-enumeration Phase: This stage consists of various activities including:

Data Processing: This involves a set of operations that translate the information collected in a Census into a useful and timely set of statistical tables.
Post Enumeration Survey (PES): The PES is a short survey conducted few weeks after the Census to determine the accuracy and reliability of the Census. The PES would help to determine how many people were missed or counted more than once. It is meant to estimate the completeness of the Census.
Production, Publication, and Dissemination: The main objective of any Census is to collect, compile and transmit information to the public in the form they can use. A Census is complete only when the collected information is made available to those who use it. This is done through printed reports of data, seminars, and other ways of dissemination.

Census Night

It is a statistical reference point or period for a census. The Census night is a statistical reference point or period for a Census. It signifies an imaginary snapshot of the population status of the country at that point in time. Statistically, it is midnight of the Census Night date (27th June 2021). This assumes that all persons should have been enumerated at midnight of 27th June 2021. It is therefore the reference point to the main Census; all enumeration must relate to that night. The Census Night will be publicized in advance throughout the country so that it will be easily remembered by everyone.

Confidentiality

This refers to the non-disclosure of any information obtained from the Census to other persons using any means including media platforms without express permission from the Government Statistician.

The information obtained is CONFIDENTIAL and shall only be used for statistical purposes. Information obtained should not be disclosed to anyone who is not an authorized census official.

Demarcation

The action of fixing the boundaries or limits of something.

Dissemination

The action of spreading something especially information, widely.

The 2021 Census will be conducted in accordance with the Statistical Service Act, 2019 (Act 1003). As a Census official, the law allows you (the enumerator) access to any premises, compound, or house for the purpose of enumerating persons and structures. However, the law forbids you from conducting yourself inappropriately.

It allows that you only ask such questions as are necessary to complete the questionnaire or check entries already made. Penalties are specified for members of the public who fail to furnish enumerators with the required information or enumerators who fail in their duties. The law particularly stresses on confidentiality of the information collected from individuals.