Cape Coast, July 27, GNA - Dr. Grace Bediako, the Government Statistician, has said the 2010 census must not only succeed but must be of the highest quality because it was one of the 93must haves for our governance systems".

She was of the hope that many people would recognize its value and readily support it adding that Ghanaians this time around cannot wait any longer for the census.

Dr Bediako said this at the opening of a seven-day 93training of district trainers workshop" to prepare officials towards the 2010 Population and Housing Census (PHC) at the University of Cape Coast (UCC).

The workshop is being organized by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) and representatives from all the 10 regions of the country including model developers and regional/district trainers are attending.

It is aimed at equipping the trainers with the requisite knowledge and skills to enable them train others to work on the field accurately and effectively.

Dr Bediako said it would require officials who are fully conversant with the field for them to confidently offer advice to those to be trained.

She said during the census individuals irrespective of nationality or residence status who are within the country's borders at a single reference point would have their demographic, social and economic characteristics recorded.

All structures used for whatever purposes will be identified and listed.

Dr. Bediako said over 117,000 prospective officers had applied on-line and that short listed candidates will soon be interviewed and the selected ones given training and called on the public to cooperate with the field workers during the exercise and provide them with the required information.

She urged all communities, institutions, individuals and groups as well as developing partners to join hands with the GSS 93to make this a truly national exercise of unprecedented dimensions".

The Regional Minister, Mrs. Ama Benyiwa Doe who opened the workshop, said the development of the country very much depended on effective planning and that statistics are critical in its attainment.

She said many development programmes could only be measured with credible up-to-date data.

She said the 2010 PHC would also create an opportunity for new districts to know their numbers as well as determine the needs of their populations and communities.

Mrs Benyiwa Doe said the government was committed and had already provided 50% of funds needed for the successful implementation of the census.

The Pro-Vice Chancellor of UCC, Professor Dominic Kuupole, said the 2010 PHC which marks the 5th post-independent census would focus on population enumeration and housing statistics to obtain good and reliable data for planning and development purposes.