Statistical Service Debunks NPP Allegations Of Massaging Figures

The Ghana Statistical Service has rubbished allegations by the opposition New Patriotic Party that the service’s inability to declare provisional results of the Population and Housing census is because government is influencing it.

The Ghana Statistical Service aborted at the last hour, a planned announcement of preliminary figures of the 2010 Population and Housing Census, stating technical problems beyond its circumstances.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is however alleging that there are attempts by some elements within the Ghana Statistical Service to bloat and massage some figures coming from elsewhere, particularly from the Volta Region.

The NPP General Secretary, Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, said in Wednesday’s edition of the Daily Guide newspaper that he had reason to believe that there is a deliberate ploy by government to massage the census figures, hence the undue delay.

He said there is a reason that the government wants to bloat the Volta regional figures so it comes closer to that of the Ashanti region.

However, the Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), Mr. Michael Adu-Gyamfi, has debunked these claims.

He was speaking in an interview with Emefa Apawu on the Wednesday, February 2, 2011 edition of the Big Bite morning show on XFM 95.1.

“We are on top of issues and we are not going to allow ourselves to be used by any politician or any political party because we know very well that the census is not for one political party but for the country and we are not going to allow any group of people to influence us by massaging figures”.

“Very soon, we are going to explain for Ghanaians to understand. There is a reason for everything”.

“And I do not know the reason yet because it is technical but of course we shall definitely come out to explain”.

Adu Gyamfi adds that the exercise is ongoing and that the final results of the census would be released in 2012.

He therefore advised the public to exercise patience, as the results would be announced when everything is set.

Story by Susan Lamptey/ Xfm 95.1/ Accra/ Ghana