Liberia: GoL Completes US$3M Contribution to Census
Samuel D. Tweah, Jr., the Minister of Finance and Development Planning is one of the many government officials who signed the Western Cluster MoU, which led to the company's debt cancelation.
The Liberian Government through the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) has announced the transfer of US$3 million to complete its contribution towards the conduct of the 2022 National Population and Housing Census.
The disclosure of the government having fulfilled its financial commitment to the 2022 National Census was contained in a communication, dated May 11, from Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel D. Tweah, Jr to Ms. Ratidzai Ndhlovu, the Resident Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Minister Samuel Tweah wrote: “I am pleased to confirm that the Government of Liberia has transferred fully, a total of US$3 million to [the] UNFPA Bank Account (Census Basket Fund) as contribution to the preparation for the 2022 National Population and Housing Census.”
He added: “The Government of the Republic of Liberia appreciates the continued collaborations with UNFPA and our development partners and remains committed to the successful undertaking of this important national project.”
On September 25, 2020, the government, through the LISGIS, in partnership with the UNFPA, Launched the 2021 National Population and Housing Census (NPHC) Project. At the launch, which took place at the Ministerial Complex, President George Manneh Weah underscored the importance of the census, stressing that it directly impacts socio-economic service delivery for citizens at the grassroots level.
The Liberian Leader noted that statistics are important for planning and implementing development programs.
“If you cannot measure accurately,” he said, “then you will not be able to manage the fair distribution of resources and delivery of services. To address poverty effectively we must use targeted interventions that can be measured, and consult the people about their own development,” the President said. “It is therefore crucial that we mobilize the entire population to come forward and be counted, so that the results of Census 2021 can be used as a tool to improve service delivery.”
The President further said that the conduct of a census is guided by a constitutional provision that mandates the Executive Branch of Government to undertake the exercise every ten years.
He said that since it is not every government administration that conducts a census, the NPHC will be a part of his legacy to the people of Liberia.
“In addition to fulfilling this crucial constitutional requirement, the crux of our commitment on this issue is to ensure that development is equitable and in the public interest,” the President said, urging citizens to fully cooperate with the exercise as it is for the general good of all.”
Meanwhile, following the October 2022 Census, the country is expected to have accurate data for the formulation of policy as well as implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
The results from the census will provide the country with a unique opportunity to realign the country’s development strategies, policies, and programs.