CONAKRY, July 6 (Xinhua) -- Guinea has launched its fourth General Population and Housing Census (RGPH-4) to collect reliable indicators and up-to-date data that will enable public authorities to design and implement development plans and programs.

During a ceremony held on Saturday, Guinean Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah officially launched the operations of the general census, which will run for four weeks and cover all households across the national territory.

Bah emphasized that the census, led by the National Institute of Statistics, applies to all individuals living in Guinea, including foreign nationals. He called on the population to provide accurate responses to enumerators' questions.

More than 23,000 enumerators have been recruited, trained, and deployed nationwide to collect essential data and information on the population and housing, crucial for the successful completion of the census.

"Census-taking is not an isolated event; it is a strategic tool for sovereignty and effectiveness," said Ismael Nabe, Guinean minister of planning and international cooperation.

According to Nabe, the RGPH-4 is a key instrument that will enable the government to monitor, evaluate, and adjust public policies.

Speaking on behalf of the technical and financial partners, Mamadou Saliou Diallo, representative of the World Bank Group in Guinea, reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the fourth census. ■