ISD, GSS sign MOU to train staff in data collection, analysis
Officials of the Information Services Department (ISD) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) to train its staff in the area of data collection and analysis.
The agreement, which is technical in nature will see the staff of the research division of the ISD in sampling, data gathering and analysis of micro-data as well as scientific utilisation of the data.
Mr David Owusu-Amoah, the acting Chief Information Officer at the ISD initialed on behalf of the ISD, while Professor Kobina Annim, the Government Statistician signed on behalf the GSS.
Briefing the media on the collaboration between the two agencies, the Minister of Information, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said the arrangement was borne out of internal identification of both an opportunity and a challenge that existed within the ISD.
He explained that the ISD traditionally complied what was called the Public Reaction Report (PRR) on events and government policies and shared same with the Minister of Information who shared same with central government to help understand what was going on.
“We identified when I assumed office a few years ago that there was the opportunity and potential to convert the PRR into a more scientifically research driven instrument that can guide the Government of Ghana, irrespective of which administration was in power,” he said.
Mr Nkrumah said as a result a fully fledged research division was created within the ISD and proceeded to admit same into the new ISD structure.
“So the ISD structure has a fully fledged research division which we have had the opportunity to invest in training and preparing the staff to conduct research across the country in all the 260 districts aimed at providing central government with scientifically driven information to guide government in decision making,” he said.
Mr Nkrumah however said, it was réalised that there still existed a gap which gap showed itself in the sampling methods used by the division to gather its data.
“So we elected to engage the GSS which is by far one of the institutions in this country well versed in this exercise on how to help us sample and train out District Information Officer (DIOs) who are now conducting these research across on proper sampling and get what is representative of the country.
On his part, Prof. Annim expressed delight over the collaboration with the ISD and said it would enhance the capacity of the Department to execute its mandate efficiently.
He said the agreement was historic as it was the first time a government agency had signed a MoU with the Statistical Service to help in conducting surveys and pledged its full cooperation in the exercise.
Mr Owusu-Amoah, on his part, expressed happiness over the signing of the MoU, saying that it marked a departure from the “old way of doing things to new way of doing things”.
He was of the conviction that the agreement would greatly improve ISD’s method of conducting research on matters of national importance, which government could rely on to make decisions.
Picture Caption
Professor Kobina Annim (left) exchanging documents with Mr Owusu Amoah (right) after the signing. Looking on is Mr KojoOppong Nkrumah.
BY CLIFF EKUFUL
