Ghana has renewed calls for sustainable and innovative financing to strengthen the country’s data ecosystem as government institutions, development partners, academia, civil society organisations, and private-sector actors met in Accra for the first Annual Forum for Data Producers, Users, and Enhancers.
The Forum, held on December 8, 2025, was organised under the auspices of the Ghana Statistical Service Development Partner Group (GSSDPG) on the theme: “Financing Innovations in Data and Statistics for Sustainable and Inclusive Development.”
The event provided a platform to reflect on the status of Ghana’s data ecosystem and discuss pathways for improving coordination, dialogue, and predictable financing.
Addressing participants, the Deputy Minister of Finance, the Government Statistician, and the UNFPA Country Representative, who also chairs the GSS Development Partner Group, underscored the urgent need for sustainable financing mechanisms to support data production and use.
They stressed that Ghana can no longer depend on sporadic donor support to maintain a modern statistical system.
The speakers highlighted the growing relevance of digital tools, artificial intelligence, geospatial systems, and real-time data technologies in improving data quality and accessibility.
They also reaffirmed the importance of deeper collaboration among government institutions, development partners, civil society groups, academia, and the private sector. Improving visibility and openness of data, they noted, is essential to strengthen evidence-based policymaking and inclusive development outcomes.
Throughout the deliberations, participants emphasised the need for innovative financing approaches, including the establishment of a national data fund, the integration of data financing into sector budgets, and strategic partnerships with the private sector.
They called for the adoption of modern tools and technologies to improve efficiency, strengthen data governance, ensure quality standards, and enhance data security, confidentiality, and interoperability across institutions.
Stakeholders examined challenges such as unstable funding, weak coordination, and capacity gaps that continue to affect the national statistical system despite major progress in recent years.
Stakeholders further advocated for improved data availability and usability through user-friendly dissemination platforms, visualisation tools, local-language communication, and stronger feedback loops between data producers and users.
The forum further highlighted the importance of capacity building for institutions and individuals who work with data.
Participants called for targeted training for analysts, Members of Parliament, journalists, teachers, civil society groups, and regional data teams to improve data interpretation and application.
Stronger cross-sector collaboration was also identified as critical to breaking silos, leveraging shared infrastructure, promoting joint research, and supporting innovation.
Concluding the session, the forum emphasised that Ghana’s development future depends on strong, well-funded, and well-utilised data systems.
“When data is produced, shared, and applied effectively, it leads to smarter public decisions, fairer policies, improved public services, better allocation of public resources, and more equitable opportunities for communities across the country”, a participant said.
Ghana’s data landscape has undergone significant transformations over the past decade. These include the country’s first fully digital Population and Housing Census in 2021, the introduction of high-frequency socio-economic surveys, and the expansion of enterprise and agricultural statistics.
The application of data science and geospatial technologies, along with modern digital dissemination platforms such as StatsBank and the Ghana Stats App, has further helped to modernise the system and make data more accessible.
Nonetheless, participants called on all institutions and citizens to support efforts to build a culture in which data guides national development choices and strengthens Ghana’s path toward sustainable and inclusive growth.
