Business News of Tuesday, 2 October 2012

Source: GNA

GIDC proposes software to address data collection challenges

The Ghana International Development Consortium (GIDC) has proposed an integrated software dubbed “All in One System” solution to address the on-going e-government challenges in the country.

The software when adopted would address issues including the voter verification problem in Ghana and the challenges facing the nation in the area of census data collection and analysis for effective implementation of policies and programmes.

Dr. Roger Koranteng, Secretary of GIDC, said a comprehensive integrated e-government technology solution was needed to address the government service delivery on a long-term basis. Dr. Koranteng was speaking at a workshop to introduce the software to various institutions and agencies in Accra on Monday.

He said the Consortium is made up of some of the nation’s professionals in the Diaspora with the sole aim and objective of identifying and addressing Ghana’s developmental challenges.

He said a complete measure was needed to address the nation’s residential, voting and data gathering for effective and meaningful policy-making.

He said the technology could be used by the Electoral Commission (EC), Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service and Birth and Death Registrar to address their data collection challenges for national development.

Dr. Koranteng explained that a nation-wide implementation of the system would help maintain the requisite records and other pertinent information needed to formulate national policies, and to conduct fraudulent-free elections.

Dr. Mustapha Ahmed, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, expressed the hope that the technology would be properly evaluated to serve its intended purpose in solving the country's e-government problems.

He said government would collaborate with the GIDC to tackle developmental problem using the technology in the areas of sanitation, environment, and energy among others.

He appealed to Ghanaians to maintain the relative peace the country was enjoying since the greatest assert the country has is peace.

Evangelist Prince Aidoo, President of GIDC, assured EC and GSS, they have the capacity to assist the country to come out with comprehensive, integrated and lasting technological solutions.