The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has launched a National Strategy for the Development of Statistics known as Ghana Statistics Development Plan (GSDP) document and a Ghana Statistical Service Corporate Plan in Accra. Speaking at the launch, Mrs Chinery Hesse, Chief Advisor to the President said the two books will serve as a tool for strengthening the organisational and management base for the implementation of the strategic plan. She noted that for the GSS to effectively coordinate the National Statistical System, production and dissemination of relevant statistics should cover and satisfy the demands and needs of entities like the Association of Ghanaian Industries (AGI), Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), National and Regional House of Chiefs, Private Contractors, Media Houses, MUSICA and Consumer Protection. “The Government, on its part, will continue to mobilise resources and make them available to the GSS for the implementation of the two documents for a sustained invigoration of the NSS for effective production of relevant statistics for testing the resilience and robustness of Ghana’s economy”, she added. Dr Grace Bediako, the Government Statistician, noted that much of the data needed to monitor the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) can be deprived from management information systems operated and used by ministries if statistical information from these sources are compiled and disseminated by statistical units in these ministries. She acknowledged the contributions of the African Development Bank, GTZ, DFID, UNDP, UNFPA and the World Bank for their financial and technical support, and also invited other development partners to join in the effort. While commending the GSS and her partners for their initiatives, Mr D.Y. Sampong, Acting Chief Director of the Ministry of Information, also enjoined them to come up with more of such innovative initiatives. He said, “we have no doubt in our minds that the two documents are going to turn around statistics production in the country and that during and at the end of the plan period, not only are we going to be proud beneficiaries of timely and reliable data but also suppliers of well trained, qualified and competent statisticians to other countries.” The Head of Civil Service, Mr Joe Issachar noted that major public problems require good public policies which can be achieved when there is a better national statistical data, adding that the active part of stakeholders is crucial to the success of the projects. Source: ISD (Delight Biney & Samuel Afriyie Sakyi)