IPNEWS: The 1986 Liberian constitution calls for a census to be conducted every 10 years.
Consistent with this provision, the Liberian government through the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services, declared on Thursday, November 10, that all was set for the commencement of the National Demographic and Housing Census, on Friday, November 11, 2022, including putting into play series of measures such as the deployment of 15,595 enumerators, the prepositioning of materials, among others.
Prior to the proclamation by the President of Liberia, George Manneh Weah, declaring a public holiday on Friday so people can stay at home to be counted in a much-delayed census, unfortunately, none of the 15,595 enumerators hired for the job were outcounting because of a dispute over their fees, even though other data puts the number of enumerators at 71,000.
Sources tell IPNEWS that there was also a last-minute disagreement between top officials of the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services – its head insisted preparations were complete, but another senior official in charge of statistics disagrees and warns that any attempt at premature counting will not be accurate or credible.
In their confusion, people in rural places have been phoning others in Monrovia to find out if the census will actually happen.
President George Weah – out of Liberia for weeks to attend official events including watching his son, Timothy, play for the US side in the football World Cup in Qatar – is under heavy criticism for not staying at home himself for the census and setting an example to others.
Some lawmakers had suggested a postponement of the event to allow for more adequate preparation, but this wasn’t considered.
The results of the Census are needed to define electoral constituencies for the 2023 general election.
Earlier in the day, a report by IPNEWS field Correspondence in four populous counties of Liberia stated a completely quiet-tone and silence to the start of the much-publicized LISGIS Demographic and housing census.
According to IPNEWS correspondents in Happer, Buchanan, Gbarnga, Ganta, and Monrovia cities, there remains to be seen a semblance of enumerators or posters on key messages and expected outcomes for the much-anticipated census.
LISGIS officials earlier yesterday had refused to speak with IPNEWS team ahead of the census during a visit at LISGIS central office.
However, LISGIS in a late evening press statement said it was determined to go ahead with the census on today Friday, November 11,2022, amidst widespread rumors earlier that the government had call-off the census.
The LISGIS release noted that it had completed repositioning, including the deployment of 15,595 enumerators for the census exercise.
Here in the nation’s capital-Monrovia, IPNEWS team touring the city limits, including low Margibi county, IPNEWS saw no sign of enumerators but the opening of markets, while scores of young men at various exercise clubs, including playing soccer at various street corners across the city.
It is not clear, how the day may go into the much desired national Demographic and Housing Census.
Ahead of the census, 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 undermine 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 indications, the Government of Liberia had not done anything to encourage or make the people happy about going for the census, evidence of the fact that there is no awareness or publicity seen by him to encourage the people to stay home for the census.
The main census enumeration is the second, and most important, phase of the census programme. It involves canvassing all housing units and persons in the country. The exercise will be undertaken by trained enumerators using census tablets pre-loaded with the questionnaire, manuals and District EA maps which will be tested during the preparatory stage of the census. The enumeration procedures used in the 2008 census based on house-to-house canvassing will be repeated. EAs have been designed so that one Enumerator can completely cover all housing units and persons in the time allotted for the enumeration. Each Supervisor will, on average, supervise five Enumerators; it is expected that Supervisors will monitor closely the work of Enumerators in the area for which they are assigned.
Despite a no-show start to the much-trumpeted 2022 National Population and Housing Census on Friday, November 11, the Liberian Government and its partners maintained that the census is on course.
President George Weah currently in the French Capital Paris declared a national holiday on Friday, November 11, to enable citizens to stay home and be counted. But many waited in vain as enumerators did not show up at their homes.
However, government and its partners announced in a release Friday evening reaffirming their commitment to exercise which is expected to end on November 22.
The release was signed by Mr. Samuel Tweah on behalf of the government of Liberia, while 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 and Mr. Jim Wright Mission Director, USAID signed for the international partners.
These data are critical for good governance, policy formulation, development planning, crisis prevention, mitigation and response, social welfare programs and business market analyses.
In this regard, the International Community pointed out that it wishes to encourage all not to politicize or disrupt the ongoing 2022 National Population and Housing Census.
“We have observed with dismay calls by some elements within the country to boycott the Census,” the release quoted the international partners as saying.
Recognizing the initial challenges, the partners asserted that the Census is now on track and has commenced as of 11 November 2022. Adding that any further disruption would lead to delays in, or possible abortion, of the Census which will benefit no one.
The release further stated that 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.
The International Partner 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.
“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 allow them to do their work. Remember that Census takes place every 10 years and the process allows an individual to be heard and counted. So, let’s make this Census count,” the release said.
