MONROVIA, May 23 (LINA) – As Liberians prepare for the 2022 National Population and Housing Census (NPHC), the Deputy Director General for Information Coordination of the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS), Wilmot Smith, has disclosed that all is now set to conduct the census as the Ghana Statistical Service has donated a consignment of equipment to aid the process.
According to Smith, LISGIS has received 21,000 tablets and 20,000 power banks to carry out a digital census this year, noting that the entity is currently preparing these tablets for the data collection.
Smith said some of the equipment will include the installation of maps, Geo- codes and others essential software that will enhance the census work.
Speaking at a press conference in Monrovia on Wednesday, Smith cited that the Government of Liberia through LISGIS has transferred US$3 million to the Census Basket Fund (CBF) hosted by the UNFPA to complete government’s contribution for smooth conduct of the census, noting that the government has contributed more money to the CBF than earlier promised.
He narrated that the institution is working with the Legislature to drive a joint resolution which empowers the Executive branch to issue a proclamation announcing a final date to conduct the main count respectively.
He pointed out that the mapping process, which is referred to as the structure marking ended on February 28, 2022, with a total of 19,226 enumeration area.
However, GIS technicians and consultants are currently conducting a data clean-up exercise with the expectation of producing 14,500 enumeration areas after the current clean-up exercise.
« Prior to the completion of the mapping process, a pre-test was carried out in December 2021, using sample size of 228 enumeration areas, and the reason for conducting the pre-test was to test the questionnaires, gadgets and all of the material and tools which will be used for the main census,” Smith stated.
He indicated that it is vital to emphasize that in consonance with the Government of Liberia’s short-term employment scheme, LISGIS has received from the public a little over 19,000 applications which will be vetted and incorporated to provide their services to the census process.
The Director, however, refuted rumors circulating in the public about the imminent postponement of the census, something he referred to as “untrue” and encouraged the public to welcome LISGIS field staff in their respective homes during the enumeration phase in October, 2022.
He, at the same time, thanked the people of Ghana through the GSS for the donation and the Government of Liberia as well as development and international partners for their immense support towards the census process.
