Credible Data key to resilient nations and smarter investments - Deputy Finance Minister

 Deputy Finance Minister, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, has emphasized that in an era of rapid global shifts—including economic uncertainties, climate vulnerabilities, demographic changes, technological disruptions, and rising demands for accountability—credible data is indispensable. He described it as the foundation upon which resilient nations are built.

Speaking at the 2025 annual forum for data producers, users, and enhancers on Monday, December 8, under the theme “Financing Innovations in Data and Statistics for Sustainable and Inclusive Development”, Deputy Minister Ampem highlighted how robust data exposes inequalities, strengthens transparency, and drives smarter investments.

“District-level poverty rates, for example, can vary by more than 40 percentage points—a disparity that only robust data can reveal. Strong statistical systems improve public-sector efficiency by up to 20 percent and ensure that resources are directed where they are needed most,” he said.

He cautioned that without quality data, planning becomes speculative, policymaking inefficient, and development outcomes uneven.

Ghana’s Progress in Data Innovation

Deputy Minister Ampem praised Ghana’s progress in modernizing its statistical landscape. Key achievements include:

• Delivering West Africa’s first fully digital Population and Housing Census, which processed data three times faster than previous cycles.




• Institutionalizing high-frequency surveys that provide real-time insights into welfare, labour market trends, and business dynamics.




• Expanding enterprise and agricultural statistics, strengthening the basis for productivity analysis.




• Integrating geospatial and data science methodologies across statistical operations.




• Deploying digital dissemination tools, including StatsBank and the Ghana Stats App, to enhance accessibility and public engagement.

Challenges and the Road Ahead

Despite these successes, Deputy Minister Ampem acknowledged that significant structural challenges remain.

“Our data systems still rely heavily on donor financing. Administrative data platforms across MDAs are fragmented, interoperability is limited, and data sharing protocols are inconsistently applied. These gaps undermine the sustainability, reliability, and strategic potential of our national data ecosystem,” he noted.

He added that the upcoming National Strategy for the Development of Statistics III (NSDS III, 2026–2030), together with the Power of Data Initiative, will provide a coherent framework to address these gaps, guide long-term investments in data production, management, innovation, and capacity development, and further strengthen Ghana’s data-driven governance.