Accra, June 13, GNA - Mr Mohammed Baba Jamal, Deputy Minister of Information, on Monday asked Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to support the staff of the Information Service Department (ISD) to educate the people on government policies and programmes.

He said most of the time the relationship between them had not been not cordial with regard to educating the people on government policies in the communities.

Mr Baba Jamal made the call at the end of his two-week tour of the Greater Accra Region in Accra.

The tour enabled him to interact with staff of the ISD and MMDCEs on efforts to collaborate in educating the people on government policies and programmes.

The Deputy Minister said ISD was an integral part of the assembly concept which should be managed efficiently and effectively.

"The tour is to monitor the management of government information at the district and regional levels, the Ghana Data base project to collate information on all the assemblies, to update the public and investors on information about the assemblies", he added.

Mr Baba Jamal said the project would be implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Department and other institutions.

He pointed out that information from the assemblies would include government agencies, public institutions, population, towns, villages as well as other significant information required for a complete date base within any MMDA.

Mr Baba Jamal said most investors needed information about the assemblies to enable them invest in the country's economy and the data base would provide the appropriate avenue for them in addition to branding the country.

He therefore directed all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Information Officers to interact with the Chief Executives regularly and collaborate for national development.

However, Mr Baba Jamal cautioned staff of ISD not to allow their political affiliations influence them in the discharge of their duties. He asked the MMDCEs to assist the department with the needed assistance to work efficiently and effectively.

Nii Armah Ashietey, Greater Accra Regional Minister, said ISD had an important role to play in the local governance system.

He said resources generated at the grassroots were used to provide basic social amenities for the people, through the local governance system for democracy, decentralisation and budget and planning that supported development.