Accra, Oct. 3, GNA - The Ministry of Public Sector Reforms on Friday inaugurated an ultra modern information centre to ensure availability of reliable data for policy planning, monitoring and evidence based decision making. The centre: Research, Statistics and Information Management Directorate under the Office of the Head of Civil Service was sponsored by the French government to the tune of over GH¢ 42 million. Mr. Samuel Owusu-Adjei, Minister of State at the Ministry who led the French Ambassador, Mr Francis Hurtut in the inauguration said the centre would ensure effective deployment in the service. He said data collected would help in the Human Resource Summit slated for November, this year.

Mr Owusu-Adjei lauded the French government for his contribution towards the growth and reform of Ghana's public sector, saying, "We are currently improving the capabilities of civil servants and subvented agencies". Mr. George Sawyerr, Directorate at the Centre said it would also help in data collection and analysis on personnel of both public and civil service in terms of recruitment, promotion and retirement to ensure cohesion in information flow. "The Centre will also publish the list of all civil servants and data on all personnel in the service would also be documented to rid the service of ghost names. About 1500 ghost names have been cleared already", Mr Sawyerr added. He noted that data would be collated from Ministries, Regional Coordinating Councils, Departments and Metropolitan Assemblies. "To ensure reliability of the information, I am informed that soft copies of the staff data have been presented to the MDAs above for information on qualification and promotion history".