Dr Prosper Laari, National Coordinator-GNHR
The Ghana National Household Registry (GNHR) of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) is set to commence its Data Collection exercise in the Upper East Region of Ghana.
The Data Collection Exercise which will be preceded by an official launch at Pusiga on Tuesday 27th February, 2018, is aimed at producing [ads1]a single national household register to facilitate access to database by social protection programmes.
The exercise being supported by the World Bank, was first carried out in the Upper West Region and it is expected to be replicated in all the 10 regions of Ghana depending on the success of the ongoing one in the Upper East Region.
The National Coordinator for the Ghana National Household Registry, Dr. Prosper Laari said that all preparatory activities towards the commencement of the data collection have been completed. He said that all the necessary tools, logistics or resources needed for the smooth takeoff of the data collection exercise in the Upper East Region are available.
He indicated that his outfit, through the constant support of the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Otiko Afisah Djaba had successfully trained adequate personnel and equipped them with the relevant information to ensure the exercise was successful.
“The data collection is a national exercise and it is being spearheaded by one of our hardworking and incorruptible Ministers, Otiko Afisah Djaba and I am confident that all the people we have trained as enumerators for the exercise will strictly adhere to our rules or guidelines in order to have a credible database that Ghana and the world can trust and will be comfortable to work with,” Dr. Laari noted.
The enumerators who have already signed contracts with the Ministry through the GNHR Secretariat are provided with about 900 tablets, 900 powerbanks and other tools needed for their work. They will operate within four zones and would be supervised by the national coordinator and other four zonal coordinators.
According to Dr. Prosper Laari, there had been massive public education and sensitization through the Information Service Department (ISD), local radio stations, newspapers, durbars, community, churches and mosques visits to whip up the enthusiasm of the people.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection is also using the launch of the data collection to create awareness on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) which has resurfaced in the Upper East Region especially the border town of Pusiga.
The region has a high prevalence rate of 27.8% as against the National prevalence rate of 3.8%. Pusiga was selected as the venue because recent reports received indicate that the prevalence rate is rising in the area.
Source: AwakeAfrica.com/Edmond Gyebi