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Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah on Monday commissioned a newly refurbished National Information Research Centre (NIRC) of the Information Services Department (ISD).

The Centre has been equipped with modern computers, state-of-the-art ICT equipment, servers and furniture to enable the personnel to collect empirical data and feedback from the public on government policies and programmes to inform decision making.

The NIRC is the second phase of the National Information Contact Centre (NICC) popularly known as 311 Call Centre, for collating information on COVID-19 measures and government interventions, which was launched by Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia in April, this year.

Speaking at the commissioning of the Research Centre in Accra, Mr Oppong Nkrumah highlighted the importance of factual information and public feedback to the Government for decision-making.

He said the personnel who would manage the Centre had received training to ensure proper processing of data for better understanding.

The Minister announced that since the commissioning of the Call Centre in April, it had received more than 500,000 concerns from the public.

He, therefore, urged the personnel at the Research Centre to own the facility and deliver value to their supervisors and the Central Government.

Mr Hassan Tampuli, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), one of the partners that provided financial support towards the refurbishment of the Centre, expressed delight at its inauguration, believing that it would aid the ISD to execute its mandate and improve the quality of information disseminated to the Government.

Mr Abraham Kofi Asante, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), said it would collaborate with the ISD by linking its 241 ICT centres across the country to the Department's Research Centre for speedy dissemination of information.

Mr Charles Wereko, the Director of the ISD, in his welcome remarks, commended Mr Oppong Nkrumah for initiating the move towards the transformation of the Department and refurbishment of the Centre, which hitherto lacked modern logistics for efficient functioning.

He expressed profound gratitude to the partners - the NPA, GIFEC and ADB, for providing the financial support towards the completion of the Centre.

The ceremony was witnessed by the two deputy Ministers of Information; Mr Pius Enam Hadzide and Nana Ama Dokua Asiamah Adjei, and senior management members of ISD.