The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has begun preparatory activities on the 2020 National Population Census.
Currently, the GSS had started pilot and trial census in Greater Accra, Bono, Bono East Ahafo, and Northern Regions.
The Deputy Government Statistician, David Kombat told journalists in Accra yesterday when he presented April inflation figures.
It is a constitutional requirement for the GSS to conduct a National Population Census every ten years. The last time a National Population Census was carried out was in 2010.
Mr Kombat said the government had given the green light for the GSS to begin work on the 2020 National Population Census and had provided financial resources for service to begin the programme.
The census, he said was estimated to cost $83 million and the GSS would elicit the support of development partners, donors and the private sector to raise the money for the exercise.
Mr Kombat said the GSSS was creating 60,000 enumeration areas across the country for the exercise
He also disclosed that the enumeration map for the census was being updated, stressing that the last time the map was updated was in 2010.
The Deputy Government Statistician indicated that GSS had automated the census activities and would be using tablets for the pre-census and the main census programme.
That paperless programme, Mr Kombat said would enable the Service collate information in real time.
He said the automation would help reduce mistakes through the data collection.
Touching on the importance of the census, Mr Kombat said the data collated on the size of the population helps the National Population Council on policy formulation.
The census, he said would accurately determine the number of people living in the country.
By Kingsley Asare
