IPNEWS: The 1986 Liberian constitution calls for a census to be conducted every 10 years. The last National Census conducted was in 2008 during the administration of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
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 the Collaborating Political Parties’ (CPP) headquarters on 18th Street in Sinkor, stated 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.
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, evidenced of the fact that there is no awareness or publicity seen by him to encourage the people to stay home for the census.
And so consistent with the 1986 Constitution, the Liberian government through the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS), 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, including the deployment of 15,595 enumerators, the prepositioning of materials, among others.
Prior to the proclamation by the President of Liberia, George Weah, declaring a public holiday on Friday so people could stay at home to be counted in a much-delayed census, unfortunately, none of the 15,595 enumerators hired for the job were out counting because of a dispute over their fees, even though other data puts the number of enumerators at 71,000.
Sources told IPNEWS that there was also a last-minute disagreement between top officials of the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) – its head insisted preparations were complete, but another senior official in charge of statistics disagreed and warned that any attempt at premature counting will not be accurate or credible.
In their confusion, Liberians in rural places started to phone others in Monrovia to find out if the census would actually happen.
President George Weah – out of Liberia for weeks to attend official events including watching his son, Timothy Weah, plays for the United States of America (USA) side in the FIFA 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 as well to determine the development graph of Liberia for future activities.
Earlier on Friday, November 11 in the day, a report by IPNEWS field correspondences 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 Harper, Buchanan, Gbarnga, Ganta, and Monrovia cities, there were no semblance of enumerators or posters on key messages and expected outcomes for the much-anticipated census.
Here in the nation’s capital-Monrovia, IPNEWS team touring the city limits, including lower Margibi County, 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 were visible.
However, LISGIS in a late evening press statement said it was determined to go ahead with the census on Friday, November 11, 2022 amid widespread rumors earlier that the government had called off the census.
The LISGIS release noted that it had completed repositioning, including the deployment of 15,595 enumerators for the census exercise.
But on Friday, November 11, 2022 the day set for census, all of the reassurances given by LISGIS that it had everything in place to conduct the census was all a DECEPTION, as the flaws associated with the planning and implementation of the process were visible for Liberians to see through the country.
“No Money, No Work”: Enumerators Boycott Census; Cite Lack of Trust in LISGIS
Several citizens recruited by the Liberia Institute for Statistic and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) to serve as enumerators and supervisors for the ongoing National Population and Housing Census boycotted the early start of the exercise.
The census, which has suffered series of setbacks, was scheduled for Friday, November 11, 2022.
But the smooth commencement of the exercise was again marred with multiple issues, prompting young Liberians who were trained to abandon their assigned tasks and responsibilities.
They cited the lack of trust in authorities of LISGIS to pay their previous sitting fees and the remaining amount following the completion of the work.
A local daily FrontPage Africa also reported that on the Bushrod Island, outside Monrovia that some enumerators disclosed that since the climax of their training at the D. Twe Memorial School High School in the Borough of New Kru Town more than a week before the Census date, authorities of LISGIS are yet to pay their “sitting fee.”
The enumerators claimed that the sitting fee which was previously announced to be US$10 per day by their facilitators, was unjustifiably reduced to US$5 per day. They said since then, the amount of US$50, which was promised to be sent via mobile money service by LISGIS, had not been settled.
“To be clear to what is unfolding, those from LISGIS misinformed the President. There is no enumerator on the field and so, today is not a census day. We were trained for 10 days but up to now we have not gotten a dime for our sitting fees. The President has announced today as a national holiday but nobody on the field. We will not go on the field until we received our money.”
“We have taken two tests since this census process and the last one was this Monday. Though we have not received our sitting fees, we saw listing this morning of our assigned areas.”
Authorities of LISGIS late Thursday evening announced the payment of fees to those recruited for the census via mobile money service. The amount of L$3800 (US$25) was being sent to some of those recruited. However, many others claimed that they have not receive the amount.
One enumerator only identified as Paul expressed skepticism that LISGIS will pay those who they recruited for the census. “Just the little amount for sitting fee of US$50, we can’t receive it, how will they pay the money that we will be working for after the census?”
Enumerators and Supervisors are expected to be paid between US$250 and US$300 respectively following the climax of the entire census.
Paul claimed that some of those who did not make it to the final listing after the training and aptitude test were the ones paid by LISGIS on Thursday night, November 10, 2022. “Minister Samuel Tweah said people were receiving sitting fees. I can show you my mobile money account; it’s zero balance. Since 2am last night (Thursday), I been searching my mobile money account; See my eyes how it is red. There’s no money there. I have not received a dime. Why is the government (LISGIS) treating us like this?”
Enumerator Paul then admonished those who will ignored these issues and continue to serve as enumerators or supervisors to also abandon the exercise because, they will not be justly compensated by the government after the entire process. “Even those people who will force it to work, they will not receive their money, but people who are out and they are not working will receive money because there are too many mistakes.”
Lack of Proper System
Enumerators, who spoke to IPNEWS on Friday, November 11, 2022, the kick off date for the National Census attributed the current situation to the alleged failure of the government, through LISGIS to put in place system and measures to curb or prevent the growing wave of racket surrounding the census.
According to them, LISGIS should have hired the services of a reputable institution to aid in processes that would lead to the successful conduct of the national exercise. They pointed out that those who attended the training initially were different from the others who sat for the aptitude test, turning the entire process into a “who know you” exercise.
“The first listing that came up, there were no center. They took some of us from St. Paul Bridge and sent us as far as Morrison Farm. They said where we were trained we should go back there. But different names were on the listing,” the Enumerators stated.
The enumerators also noted that the entire process was also a herculean task for the facilitators who conducted the training, adding, the situation compelled others to return to the facilities were they were trained to form part of the exercise.
Incurring Debts Just to Become Enumerators
The enumerators, who spoke to IPNEWS disclosed that thousands of struggling and less fortunate Liberians are going the extra mile by paying huge sum of money or crediting from others just to form part of the process.
“The money some of us spent running behind this census just for our names to come out and to sustain ourselves and families is too much now. And up to now, there is no understanding. How will we go to work when the people at LISGIS can’t live up to their promise”, an elderly enumerator (female) who spoke on condition of anonymity stated.
The enumerators also disclosed that the lack of proper training for some enumerators to log onto the tablets being used for the census is another reason why they have abandoned the process.
“To where some of us were trained, even some of those who they sent as facilitators did not even know how to train other people. Some people who names appeared on the final listing don’t even know how to work. There are too many mistakes and so, LISGIS should do the honorable thing.”
The enumerators then called on President George Weah to play an oversight role by bringing to book authorities of LISGIS if the outcome of the census is not satisfactory. “If people boycott this census, the head of LIGIS should be responsible for that because there is no system.”
The enumerators wondered while authorities of LISGIS failed to properly plan for the census even though the exercise has been postponed countless number of times. “According to our constitution, census is after every 10 years. How can LISGIS tell us that since 2008, they were unable to put in place a system and today we are seeing that there is no enumerators on the field?”
The enumerators have predicted that the outcome of the census will not be realistic due to the manner and form in which “those who supposed to do the actual work” are being mistreated by government.
On his part, supervisor Augustine Tamba expressed high level of frustration over the failure of the government to recognize their efforts by paying their just benefits. He said about 25% of their total payment was promised to be given by LISGIS prior to the commencement of the census. “For me, I am a supervisor and I will not be going in the field. But I cannot go to my center now until I get my money. We are ready to do the job if they give our money.”
Supervisor Tamba accused the government of being insensitive to the plights of its citizens in the midst of the growing wave of economic hardship in the nation. “We were told that we were going to receive our money before today. I checked my mobile money account and there is nothing there. Since today we have also been checking on LISGIS website. They should know that we have families and it’s difficult especially with the hardship that is currently in the country. You can’t be working for three weeks without pay.”
He stated though many persons may not trend the path of staging violent protests due to the manner and form they are being treated, the failure of government to settle their arrears continue to provoke them to anger. He maintained that citizens will exercise their constitutional rights to ensure that the appropriate steps are taken to pay their “sitting fees.”
Tamba maintained that the government has failed to recognize the significance of the census as evidenced by its failure to put in place the proper mechanisms to guarantee the smooth conduct of the process. “I love my country and that’s why I applied for the position and I succeeded. I met all of the requirements given by the government but up to now, money has not been given. And we can’t go in the field without scratch card or money in our pockets. We agree that census begins today but who are those that are going to do the enumeration for our people?” “The information we received is that some of those who were trained for five days were the ones being paid. But I have not received nothing up to now (Friday, November 11, 2022.”
As supervisor, Tamba claimed that the government failed to officially assign or turn over to him the materials needed for the conduct of the census. He stated his center at the D. Twe High School in New Kru Town remained closed all day, as they told enumerators assigned under his supervision were told where they were assigned but they failed to show up because they never received their money.
He also said facilitators were also mute on whether or not they would have received their money on Friday, November 2022, day of the kickoff of the census. Tamba termed the entire situation as “shameful” to not only the government, but the entire country.
He observed that the opportunity accorded young people to serve in leadership positions are being allegedly abused at LISGIS by some higher-ups.
“Samuel Tweah, the Minister of Finance is the main problem in this country. He talks more than he works. If President Weah continues to sit down and allow him to use him or be telling him that all is well in this country, he should wait for 2023. We are packaging a surprise package for them already”, a young female enumerator stated out of frustration.
The ongoing census in Liberia is long overdue. The last census was conducted in the post-conflict nation in 2008 during the administration of former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Since then it has suffered multiple setbacks, ranging from reported acts of rampant corruption, lack of funding, poor planning over the time frame, methods, training of enumerators, among others.
Enumerator Trainings were conducted across the country with the government, through LISGIS failing to provide food, water and sitting fee for those who attended. Government’s action prompted series of protests in some parts of the country. Those protests obstructed the movement of motorists and pedestrians and jeopardized normal working academic and other activities.
The realistic outcome of the ongoing census remains threatened due to the unsettled issues raised by the aggrieved enumerators and supervisors, many of whom have already abandoned the process.
Though the day commemorating the start of the census was declared a national holiday by President Weah, hundreds of citizens were seen at market places going about their normal routines or services.
Inadequate awareness on the census, including the dishing out of huge sum of money to one Aloysius Howe by authorities of LISGIS are issues being raised by the locals. Minister Tweah recently reported that the amount of LD160,000 was paid to Howe, who is one of his closed allies, for a social media public relations service on the census.
Political pundits say the worth for taxpayers’ monies and donor funds will not be actualized if steps are not taken promptly to address the lackadaisical manner and form in which the census is being conducted.
According to them, while President George Weah is away from the country, the peace and stability of Liberia also remain threatened if measures are not taken immediately to guarantee the payment of fees to the several thousand young Liberians who have been recruited to serve as enumerators and supervisors for the census.
IPNEWS have learned that already, owners of local businesses who claimed that they were hired by LISGIS to provide catering and other services for the trainings of the enumerators across the country, are also planning to stage series of protests in their respective regions.
They claimed that the government surreptitiously cancelled their contracts just few days to the start of the trainings. They further claimed to have spent huge sum of monies towards pre-financing the contracts and want the government to pay for the losses they have accrued.
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.
Government of Liberia and Partners Announce Census is On Course
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.
