I am pleased to have participated in the crucial Financing for Development 4 (FfD4) and Future of Data side event at the 57th Session of the United Nations (UN) Statistical Commission! The discussions reinforced a profound truth: robust data and statistics are the strategic foundation for sustainable financing and effective governance.
For Ghana, the lessons are clear and compelling. My intervention highlighted the critical need for our National Statistical Office (NSO), that is, the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), to be recognized as the central coordinator and quality assurance body across Ghana's entire data ecosystem. While various agencies collect vital economic and social data including data on revenues, monetary indicators, and FDI, the NSO's unique role is to bring it all together, ensuring consistency, reliability, and ultimately, trust in the data policymakers rely on.
Key Lessons for Ghana:
1. Data as Core Infrastructure: We must view data not as an add-on, but as core infrastructure for government operations, enabling evidence-based policymaking, smarter debt management, and attracting essential investments;
2. Quantifying Impact: The return on investment for statistics is astounding – an estimated $32 for every $1 invested! We need to actively quantify and communicate this value to our policymakers, showing how data drives economic growth, transparency, and better outcomes for all Ghanaians; and
3. Breaking Down Silos: Our NSO must be the nexus, working hand-in-hand with all data producers – from the Ghana Revenue Authority to data producing MDAs to the Bank of Ghana – to integrate information and provide a "seal of trust" that makes data actionable.
Partnership is paramount in all this. Our NSO will continue to foster collaboration with all national data-producing agencies, standardizing and integrating data. Internationally, we must leverage the Sevilla Platform for Action (SPA) and similar initiatives to ensure external support is coordinated, efficient, and aligns directly with Ghana's strategic national priorities, amplifying our domestic efforts.
Securing sustainable funding for our statistical development is also political imperative. We must continue to proactively engage with our Ministry of Finance and parliamentary representatives, demonstrating the tangible benefits of investing in our entire data value chain - from foundational data collection to advanced analysis and transparent and clear dissemination.
Ghana needs to lead by example, ensuring predictable and adequate resources are allocated to strengthen our national statistical system, transforming data into prosperity for every citizen. Let's turn commitment into action. Ghana is ready to champion a data-driven future!
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