GSS Boss Begs Data Collection Officers Over 2021 Census Boycott
This has sparked serious concerns with many of them, threatening to boycott the entire census for fear of being short-changed.
Joana Somiah 
The Eastern Regional Director of Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), Bright Worlanyo Neku has urged agitating Field data collection officers to remain calm, explaining that the "mishap was as a result of miscommunication".
The Enumerators of the 2021 population and housing census in New Juaben South Municipality of the Eastern region, undergoing ten days training program are agitating over a slash in transportation allowance promised them.
Narrating their displeasure to the media this morning at Koforidua, the trainees told Soiree New that they were initially promised Ghc550 for transportation at the end of the training but the amount was reduced to Ghc440 and subsequently slashed to Ghc330.
This has sparked serious concerns with many of them, threatening to boycott the entire census for fear of being short-changed.
“The T&T in contention now, we promised to give them Ghc500 but later on, they’ve heard that we slashed it to Ghc440, then now, it's slashing downward to Ghc330 so because of those things they want to boycott the program," one reported.
"When I went there, I met the facilitators, we discussed the issues, so I explained to the facilitators that this is the situation”.
According to him, “the first thing he did was that, during the opening address, which was sent from Accra from the Chief Executive, it was stated that they will pay them G440 for ten days. So where they got that Ghc50 (per day) from I don’t really know. It was the document that indicated the Ghc440 quoted. But later, we had another communiqué that the Ghc440 was a mistake so it is now going to be Ghc30 for their T&T per day," he narrated to the media in Koforidua.
The government Statistician, Professor. Samuel Anim, said, “On the side of GSS, "we will be providing a transport allowance of GH₵330. The first tranche of 30% will be paid after the first week of training. The second tranche of 40% will be paid in the second week of training and the last tranche will be paid three days after the start of the listing".
Moreover, trainees that do not complete the training, but decline, will forfeit the final 30%. For trainees who will finally be selected as Enumerators, A relatively large single payment of money often paid and received instead of, the sum of GH₵2,520 will be paid for the listing and enumeration exercise.
"Mr Worlanyo Neku emphasized, that for trainees who will be selected as Supervisors, their remuneration will be GH₵2,940 for the listing and enumeration exercise. These amounts will be paid in tranches and the details are provided in the contracts".
Stated, that all payments will be done via G-money and so all trainees should ensure they are registered on G-Money and provide the correct telephone number for payment.
However, the 2021 Population and Housing Census (PHC) is estimated to cost the nation GHS 521 million. Adding that, the government has raised and disbursed GHS 467 million out of the total sum for the start of the exercise.
The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has explained, that the 2021 census will commence on Sunday, June 27, 2021, and the exercise is expected to run till July 11, 2021.
William Ofori Akwaboa, Eastern Regional Correspondent
