The Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (GPSDD), has appointed Professor George Gyan-Baffour, the Minister of Planning as the Ambassador for Data for Sustainable Development Goals.

As first good will Ambassador, Prof Gyan-Baffour will have an advisory function to the GPSDD's Secretariat, Board and Technical Advisory Group.

He will advocate the importance of leveraging data and technology to help governments, companies, and citizens make more informed decisions that lead to better lives.

The Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who is a member of the Board of the GPSDD gave the announcement on Tuesday during a welcoming dinner in Accra, organised by the Ghana Statistical Service for some Journalists attending the GPSDD Press Fellowship (GPSDD) to Ghana.

Eight Journalists from Senegal, Ghana, Kenya, United States and United Kingdom are currently in the country for the four-day Data4SDGs Press fellowship underway in Accra.

The United Nations Foundation (UNF) is sponsoring the fellows attending the programme, being organised by GPSDD in collaboration with the GSS.

Vice President Bawumia explained the ambassadorship recognised the recipient's passion and deep expertise in using good data and technology to drive good decisions, elevating data-led development from the technical to the political, and in doing so helping to accelerate inclusive development.

The Vice President later presented an award to Prof Gyan-Baffour, who is the Member of Parliament for Wenchi Constituency in Bono Region for his new appointment.

On his part, Prof Gyan-Baffour said he was grateful to government and the GPSDD for the honour, and promised to work hard to justify the confidence reposed in him.

He said leveraging technology to increase the availability of real time quality data through partnerships and collaborations remained an important step to ensure Ghana delivered and achieve the SDGs.

"The success or otherwise of our efforts of achieving the SDGs cannot be realised if they are not underpinned by a robust data system that leverages on technology and innovation", Prof Gyan-Baffour stated.