By J. Peter S. Dennis, dennisrealone@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Liberia- The 2022 national population and Housing Census has been halted in an area in the central Bong County.
Sayewheh Town, where the disruption has taken place, is approximately 48KM away from here in Gbarnga, Bong’s capital.
Another traditional activity is said to have been taking place in Boen, another town 4KM from David Dean’s town.
Already, the 2022 National Population and Housing Census process has been marred by countless controversies and challenges ranging from delay in paying Enumerator to lack of logistics for timely deployment and reported corruption.
Up to present, many of the enumerators haven not received their transportation reimbursement and DSA after undergoing the training. Notwithstanding, they have signed up for the work across the country but face hitches.
That is, enumerators assigned in Sayewheh Town- MNG Gold’s mining base in Bong County have to stay away, because they aren’t members of the ongoing bush School or the traditional Sande society activity whilst enumerating.
Currently, they aren’t peacefully working. Some have been asked to stay away for three days while others four.
Some have decided to stay away until everything settles.
“When we got in the town for the census, we never knew whether the country devil (masked men) were in the town. While sitting around 8PM, we heard the strange sound and began to ask what was that. Out of the sudden, We have to travel at night for not being initiated,” they said.
“As we speak, we don’t know how it will be because we don’t want to go in the towns and we come be initiated out of our will,” the LISGIS enumerators alarmed.
It’s not clear as to when these enumerators will commence their work amidst mounting fear.
When contacted, Sayewheh Town chief, Rebecca Somah who refused to be tipped, confirmed of Sande activity in the area before census commencement.
She declined to provide further clarity while instructing reporters to visit one of the traditional heads in the areas.
Madam Kennie Tokpa, who says she is the national traditional Council of Liberia head of dancing and cultural activity, clarified that they were instructed by Chief Zanzan Kawah to immediately graduate them to enable them being counted.
She adds that the graduation was done on November 23 in the town.
Madam Tokpa also declined to give the total arguing that it’s against them.
On forceful initiation, she replied “we didn’t force anyone. They walked to the bush and were initiated”.
“Zanzan Kawah told us to graduate them because they need to be counted. Their time never reached, but we have to respect the government,” she said.
Many of them are from different towns and villages.
Our reporter also observed endless movement of recent graduates in their regular regalia.
Up to present, there has been no official response from LISGIS.
Another traditional activity has been taking place in Boen, another town 4KM from David Dean’s town. This, another female enumerator, a non-member says she has been told not to visit the town until everything is completed.
This Reporter with a verification team that visited the town gathered that the head “Zoe” has died. Hence, there were several traditional performances that may have scared them.
The activities have lasted for last three days with unclear date of the burial.