The Lord Mayor of Andek Council, Mr. Ubangoh Helly, chaired a crucial mobilization meeting on Friday, 17th April 2026, at the Andek Council Hall, to prepare and sensitize the population of Ngie Subdivision ahead of the 4th General Population and Housing Census (RGPH-4), scheduled for 2026.

The meeting brought together traditional rulers, quarter heads, neighborhood coordinators, religious leaders, and representatives of women and youth groups from all 29 communities of the municipality. The objective was to ensure massive community participation and to educate residents on how to properly receive census enumerators who will soon be deployed across all communities.

In his keynote address, the Lord Mayor underscored that the census is not a political exercise but a vital national development tool. He called for total cooperation from all households, urging the population to welcome enumerators peacefully and provide truthful, accurate information.

“Do not be afraid when enumerators knock on your doors. They are agents of development. The data they collect will determine how schools, hospitals, roads, and water projects are planned for Ngie,” the Mayor stated.

Specifically addressing Their Royal Highnesses the Fons and the Neighborhood Coordinators, Mr. Ubangoh Helly designated them as the focal points for community mobilization. He appealed to all sons and daughters of Ngie, including those who have recently travelled out of the subdivision for work or studies, to return home during the census period and be counted in their villages of origin.

To drive home the historical importance of census exercises, the Mayor cited the biblical account of the birth of Jesus Christ, noting that Joseph and Mary travelled to Bethlehem to be counted. “If census was important during biblical times, it is even more critical today for our own development,” he stressed.

The Mayor emphasized that accurate population data directly influences the allocation of state resources, council budget lines, and the lobbying power of the municipality for major projects. Low counts, he warned, would disadvantage Ngie in national planning for the next ten years.

To facilitate grassroots sensitization, the Lord Mayor distributed printed information sheets and financial allocations to all Neighborhood Coordinators to support community outreach, transport, and communication. The sensitization materials were sponsored by Hon. Awutah Philip to the tune of 100,000 FCFA, a gesture the Mayor publicly acknowledged and applauded.

In closing, the Lord Mayor made a passionate appeal: “Let every house, every family, and every individual in Ngie stand up to be counted. This is our civic duty. The future roads, classrooms, and health centers we demand tomorrow depend on the numbers we provide today.”

The meeting ended with a question-and-answer session where community leaders pledged to begin immediate door-to-door sensitization in their respective jurisdictions.