Development Economist at the University of Ghana, Dr. George Domfeh, is calling for a major shift in the way policymakers in Ghana design and implement public policies.
The economist argues that many policies across Africa fail because they are not grounded in evidence, research, and a proper understanding of the problems they seek to solve.
Speaking ahead of the 2026 Evidence to Action and Exhibition Conference (E2A), Dr. Domfeh argued that governments in many developed countries rely heavily on data, research, and expert analysis before implementing policies, unlike many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, where decisions are often driven by assumptions, political rhetoric, or an incomplete understanding of societal challenges.
According to him, the absence of evidence-informed policymaking continues to weaken development outcomes and limits the effectiveness of government interventions across critical sectors, including education, health, agriculture, and the economy.
Policies Must Emerge from Problems
Dr. Domfeh stressed that every meaningful policy must begin with the identification of a clearly defined societal problem.
According to him, policymaking is not simply about drafting directives or announcing interventions, but rather about understanding the root causes of challenges affecting citizens.
He explained that without a clear understanding of a problem, governments risk implementing policies that fail to address the real needs of the people. He emphasized that policies should not be created based on opinions alone, but through a systematic process of identifying the “whys, hows, and whats” surrounding a challenge.
“Without a problem, there will be no policy. So once a problem is identified, then it becomes very important for us to peruse the environment, to find whatever factors that are affecting the problem. We call it problem definition. You really need experts to peruse and understand what the problem looks like,” he remarked
He added, “You know, how to identify the whys, the hows, and the whats about the problem. Then you get to understand. And once you understand the problem, that’s where we work out solutions to address the problem. That solution becomes evidence. That solution is the policy.”
For him, effective policymaking requires experts to thoroughly examine the environment, gather data, and engage affected communities before proposing solutions.
Research, Data and Citizens Matter
Dr. Domfeh believes one of the biggest weaknesses in African governance is the limited use of research and stakeholder engagement in public decision-making.
He noted that evidence-based policymaking involves consulting citizens directly affected by problems, understanding the extent of those challenges, and collecting data that reflects realities on the ground.
According to him, this process allows policymakers to develop practical and targeted solutions instead of relying on assumptions.
He explained that when governments engage researchers, experts, and communities in policy formulation, the resulting interventions become more effective, measurable, and sustainable.
In contrast, he warned that “baseless policies” often emerge when governments bypass research and fail to properly diagnose national problems before acting. Such policies frequently lead to wasted public resources, weak implementation outcomes, and public dissatisfaction.
“For you to understand the problem means research. Research here means you want to know all the people being affected by the problem, and you want to engage them to find out the extent to which that problem is affecting them. You get to understand all these things from different perspectives,” he noted.
He continued, “When you put it all together, it becomes the problem identification. And so when you proffer a solution, you know, because it affects A this way, it affects B this way, you have the data. That solution becomes evidence-based. And unfortunately, we don’t have it..”
Why Evidence-Based Policies Are Critical for Ghana
Dr. Domfeh says Ghana’s development ambitions cannot be achieved without strengthening the country’s evidence-informed policy ecosystem.
He argues that in a rapidly changing world, governments must increasingly depend on credible data and scientific research to make decisions that affect citizens’ lives.
As many experts argue, evidence-based solutions help governments allocate resources efficiently, prioritize urgent national issues, and design interventions that produce measurable impact.
He further stressed that policymaking should become a continuous cycle of problem identification, research, implementation, evaluation, and improvement.
For Ghana, he believes this approach could significantly improve governance outcomes and help restore public confidence in state institutions and national development strategies.
2026 Evidence to Action and Exhibition Conference
Dr. Domfeh made the remarks ahead of the 2026 Evidence to Action and Exhibition Conference scheduled for June 22–26, 2026.
The conference, organized by the International Centre for Evaluation and Development (ICED) at the University of Ghana, is themed “Reimagining the Evidence-Informed Policy and Decision-Making Ecosystem in Africa.”
The conference and exhibition is expected to bring together policymakers, researchers, development practitioners, academics, and civil society actors to discuss how Africa and can strengthen the role of evidence in governance and policymaking.
The event is expected to focus on bridging the gap between research, policy formulation, and practical implementation to support sustainable development across the continent.
