Professor Samuel Kobina Annim, Government Statistician, has urged Ghana’s institutions to adopt sector-specific statistics to enhance the effectiveness of policy initiatives.
He highlighted that policies driven by intuition rather than data compromise the ability to monitor outcomes and measure impact.
Speaking at the 2024 African Statistics Day event, themed “Supporting Education by Modernising the Production of Fit-for-Purpose Statistics,” Prof. Annim emphasized that from 2025 onward, all government agencies should submit baseline data requirements to guide policy and data production.
The government statistician also called for greater collaboration between public agencies and the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) to ensure access to essential data for policy development.
Dr. Faustina Frempong-Ainguah, Deputy Government Statistician for Social Population and Statistics, noted that traditional data collection methods no longer meet the demands of modern educational challenges. To stay current, the GSS is adopting real-time data technologies, digital census operations, and AI-driven analysis.
She added that these innovations aim to reduce the lag between data collection and publication, enabling faster response times for education stakeholders. Dr. Frempong-Ainguah called for investment in human resources, private sector partnerships, and collaboration with educational institutions to co-create solutions aligned with real-world needs.
Also speaking at the event, Professor Johnson Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu, Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, emphasized the importance of accurate and timely data for decision-making in education. He noted that “fit-for-purpose” statistics equip policymakers and educators with essential insights to tackle disparities in access, quality of learning, and resource distribution. The call for sector-specific data underscores a push towards data-driven policies to enhance education and other key sectors.
