–Dr. Toga Gaywea McIntosh Warns Amid Controversies around Census ‘2022
By James Lehmer Hiama, Jr.; 0770-334857; hiamajames@gmail.com
IPNEWS-Monrovia: A prominent member of the opposition Collaborating Political Party (CPP), Dr. Togar Gaywea McIntosh, in interaction with journalists on Thursday, November 10, 2022 at CPP headquarters on 18th Street in Sinkor, says the conduct of the 2022 National Census is cardinal not only to the pending 2023 presidential and legislative elections, but also important for the development and growth of Liberia.
Dr. McIntosh, a member of a 44-member Team, dubbed “Team Cummings 2023” highlighted some few important things and benefits of a national population census in regards to the current state of Liberia.
The 44-member Team, dubbed “Team Cummings 2023” was recently constituted as the initial campaign Team to ensure the election of the Standard Bearer of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), Mr. Alexander B. Cummings as the next President of Liberia in the 2023 general and presidential elections.
Dr. Toga Gaywea McIntosh
“Team Cummings 2023” comprises prominent Liberians of diverse professionals, Political and religious backgrounds, charged with the responsibility to mobilize Liberians of all persuasions nationwide to join, support and vote out the inept leadership of President George Weah in the 2023 elections.
Prominent among the team are, Dr. Togar McIntosh, Ambassador Lewis Brown, Mr. George Wisner, H. Dan Morias, River Gee Senator Jonathan Sogbie, Madam Julia Duncan-Cassell, Mariama Sangare, Montserrado County Representative Yekeh Kolubah, and Daniel Chea of Grand Bassa County and many others.
Dr. McIntosh, in his interaction with the press, told journalists from several media institutions that the importance and benefits of having a population census, is not only tied alone to knowing the number of people in a country or a given region. But, it is also important to the development and growth of the country or region as well.
As such, Dr. McIntosh named Resource allocation and mobilization, knowing the demography of the population, social economic of the people, political representation, and making comparative analysis and among others as some important reasons why a census should be held.
He, however mentioned that in other to ensure a quality and creditable census be held, data integrity, verification of data, honesty, quality and corruption free practices should all be adhered to, to ensure that the necessary result of the census meet the sole intent of the process.
Dr. McIntosh, in his statements said , since 2008 when the last census was held, the population of the country may have grown or reduced, and by law, each 20,000 people of a given region need to have representation at the national legislature, as such, if census is not well managed and conducted, it may undermines its creditability.
Moving further, the former Board Chairman of LISGIS during President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf administration in his capacity as the then Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs, said from all indication, the Government of Liberia had not done anything to encourage or make the people happy of going for census, evidenced of the fact that there is no awareness or publicity seen by him to encourage the people to stay home for the census.
