Ghana Census, 1984 - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection includes records from the census taken on March 11, 1984.

The census was recorded in census registers, which include a title page summary and the enumeration pages with detailed information for each address taken. The text of the census is written in English.

The 1984 Ghana census was conducted with 140 local councils as administrative units. Please be aware that the census records have the imprinted year of 1982; however the census was conducted in March of 1984. The census is divided into a total of 56,170 localities. It was the third post-independence census of Ghana (1960, 1970 and 1984).

Only those individuals, including foreign visitors, who were present in Ghana on March 11, 1984, were included in the census enumeration. Due to records lost in Ghana, not all localities are listed.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
These records may contain the following information:
 * Full name of members present on census night
 * Enumeration area and detailed address of house
 * Name of town/village
 * Relationship to head of household
 * Gender, age, birthplace, and nationality of household members
 * Level of education of each person
 * Occupation of each person
 * Employment status
 * Names of visitors present on census night
 * Names of members absent on census night

Sample Images
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How Do I Search This Collection?
Before using this collection, it is helpful to know:


 * Name of the person you are looking for
 * Name of district and town/village

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Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Save a copy of the image or transcribe the information.
 * These pieces of information may give you new biographical details such as a title, an occupation, or land ownership. Add this new information to your records of each family. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors.
 * Church Records often were kept years before government records were required and are a good source for finding ancestors before 1900.
 * Use the age, locations, and relationships to begin your search in church or civil records.
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have moved, or lived nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify.
 * Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual. This compiled list can help you identify possible relations that can be further verified.

I Can't Find the Person Who I'm Looking For, What Now?

 * Switch to a different record collection. Depending on the time period, either Civil Registration records or Church Records may be more useful.
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 * Try variations of your ancestor’s name while searching the index or browsing through images. Pay special attention to how the name should have been pronounced and try variations on the pronunciation.
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names. Try searching for these names as well.

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Citing This Collection
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