The Government has reiterated its commitment to funding the cost of the 2010 Population and Housing Census, to be conducted in March next year, to determine the actual number of people living in the country in order to inform development decision making. The exercise is estimated to cost about $48.9 million and would also provide demographic and socio-economic data on all the districts to enhance planning at all levels. Speaking at the inauguration of a seven-member Board of Directors for the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), Dr Kwabena Duffuor Finance Minister said the government would make the resources available for the census and stressed the need for the task to be carried out in a timeframe which would not have negative impact on the quality. He tasked the Board to work towards reform of the GSS to enable it to play its role adequately in the National Statistical System. One of the key reform actions, the Minister said, was to review and revise the legal framework of the GSS in order to enhance its co-ordination role across the National Statistical System and to define its responsibilities vis-à-vis the National Development Planning Commission, Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and the Policy Monitoring and Evaluation Unit, which had been established in the office of the President. Meanwhile, the Minister has also inaugurated the Board of the National Identification Authority, which is mandated to register Ghanaians home and abroad and foreign nationals resident in Ghana by generating unique identifiers for them, issue national identity cards and verify and authenticate identity search requests from public and private institutions. The Minister said a key goal of the National Identification System was to strengthen public confidence in the business environment by ensuring that transactions were efficient, secure, reliable and trustworthy. It will in addition help to minimize identity fraud and improve crime control. He commended the Authority for the progress made in construction of the National Data Centre, installation of equipment for data processing and card printing and the mass registration exercise in Central, Western, Eastern and Volta Regions. The NIA is yet to commence mass registration in the remaining six regions. Dr Duffuor underscored the government’s commitment to the successful implementation of the National Identification System and urged the Board to provide sound and effective policy direction for the success of the project. The seven-member GSS Board is chaired by Professor Francis Dodoo while the Chairman for the 10-member NIA Board is Larry Adjetey. Source: GNA