Four New Juaben Municipal Enumerators refuse to take oaths

Koforidua, Sept 23, GNA - The New Juaben Municipal Census Implementation Committee have dropped four participants from the Population and Housing Census exercise, for refusing to swear the oath of secrecy at the end of a 10-day training programme, in Koforidua. The four persons, who refused to swear the oath being administered by a High Court Judge, Justice Efo Kosi Kaglo to more than 300 field officers and supervisors selected to undertake the exercise in the Municipality, did not give any reason for their action.

Mr Abakah Ansah, Municipal Director of the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), disclosed this in an interview with GNA. He said swearing oath of secrecy, was part of the contract to ensure that the field officers abide by confidentiality of the information and data to be collected from people. Mr Ansah said even though the GSS had warned that anyone who would refuse to take part in the exercise after the training except on health grounds would be made to refund the cost of training, the four persons would be allowed to go Scot free and that their training allowance of GHC 110 cedis would be paid to them.

He said that the training exercise was successful considering the agitation of participants in other districts.

Mr Ansah indicated that 252 enumerators, 30 supervisors and three senior supervisors, including 80 females, had been engaged for the exercise in the Municipality

He said that out of the number, 30 participants had been scheduled for the enumeration of institutions like hospitals, police cells, prisons and both public and private tertiary schools whiles the rest were doing the listing of houses and structures. Mr Ansah said that in all 252 Enumeration Areas had been earmarked for the exercise in the Municipality and appealed to the public to give the field officers the maximum cooperation. Mr Solomon Dwomoh, the Municipal Information Officer, who is in charge of publicity for the census committee, advised the people not to rub the listings on their walls and houses since it was not for demolition or taxation as being speculated. He said that the numbering of houses in the Enumeration Areas would be written with white chalk and asked the public to draw the attention of the committee on any house or structure that had not been listed before September 26.