Mr Makane Kane, Country Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), on Tuesday reiterated the agency's commitment to support Government with technical assistance and human resource mobilisation towards the upcoming national population census.
He said a reliable data base system was essential for government to plan and implement effective and realistic policies that engender socio-economic development.
"Ghana needs reliable data to prepare well for the upcoming population exercise. Data is also needed to plan for the future, most especially, as the country is experiencing some economic challenges," he said.
Mr Kane said this when he led a delegation, made up of representatives of the UNFPA and the Media and Communication Advocacy Network (MCAN), on a visit to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra to interact with Management.
He said UNFPA, an international development agency that promotes the rights of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity, began its assistance to Ghana since the early 1970s through special projects administered by the United Nations Development Programme.
Nana Appau Duah, General Manager of GNA, in his welcoming address told the delegation that the Agency had become a welcoming destination for all institutions, both local and international, as many of them paid visits to better acquaint themselves with the activities of the GNA.
He said with over 250 committed stringers nationwide, the Agency strived to cover the whole country in terms of reportage to feed its 100 subscribers.
Nana Appau Duah said GNA was focused on providing accurate and unbiased stories that promoted unity and showcased African and Ghanaian values for development.
Miss Rosemary Ardayfio, spokesperson for MCAN, said the group focuses on population related issues and their linkage with national development.
She expressed concern over the fact that stories that bordered on population were marginalised by most media houses because their publication did not bring proper remuneration to the media, and appealed to the management of GNA to help bring such stories to the limelight.