Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana, The Most Rev Dr. Paul Kwabena Boafo has appealed to members of the church and Ghanaians as a whole to get involved in the 2021 population and housing census which begins tonight Sunday 27th June.
He noted that the data collection exercise would go a long way to assist the church in providing social amenities to communities which need them.
A Population Census is the official enumeration of all persons in a country at a specified time. The enumeration also implies the collection, compilation, evaluation, analysis, publication and dissemination of demographic, social and economic statistics relating to the population.
A Housing Census is the official enumeration of all living quarters (occupied and vacant) in a country at a specified time. This enumeration also implies the collection, compilation, evaluation, analysis, publication, and dissemination of statistical data pertaining to these living quarters and the occupants.
Ghana has conducted five post-independent population censuses in 1960, 1970, 1984, 2000 and 2010 with the last two consisting of both a population census and a housing census making the 2021 PHC the third Population and Housing Census to be conducted in Ghana. The 2021 PHC is designed to generate statistics that are essential for policy and planning purposes.
”Tonight is census night, The Methodist Church Ghana would continue to lend our support to the Ghana Statistical Service for them to have a credible data. The church would also need such important data to help us partner government in providing social amenities to communities.”
The Most Rev Dr. Boafo was speaking at the commendation and commissioning of 59 candidates to commence probation as deacons of the church at the Mount Olivet Methodist Chapel at Dansoman in Accra.
”We have to take it serious as Ghanaians because it will form part of our lives in the years to come”, he stressed.
He asserted that, ”Cage your dogs if you live in a house that have dogs to enable the enumerators enter your homes safely and the get the exercise conducted peacefully. Do not count yourself out, be counted because you count. Don’t allow people to feed your minds with false information.”
He charged the newly commissioned deacons to serve as a shepherd who takes care of his flock. He urged them to play three most important things in the shepherding business. They include: feeding the people with the word of God, protect the people from their enemies and evangelize to the world where they find themselves.
“The ministry of God is under serious attack and this is mostly attributed to the attitude of Pastors. A lot of issues happens in the church. Issues such as backbiting, infighting and spousal abuse but as a shepherd you need to feed, guide and lead them.”
”Serve God willingly and not for shameful gains, serve as an example and not a domineering character. The hall mark of Methodist Ministers is respect and humility, that must be seen in you”, he noted.
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