The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has formalized partnerships with 25 ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) through new memoranda of understanding (MOUs) aimed at strengthening the national statistical system.
The MOUs are designed to promote “stronger collaboration” and enable administrative data across government to be coordinated, quality-assured, and shared responsibly to support national development.
Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, Government Statistician and head of the GSS, described the initiative as a move from fragmented data systems to “connected data systems,” emphasizing that policy making improves when decisions are guided by reliable data. He noted that administrative data on health services, education, public safety, environmental management, and economic activity have often remained siloed across institutions, limiting its effectiveness for national planning.
The MOUs establish clear frameworks on what data will be shared, how, and when, while also designating focal persons, technical standards, and review mechanisms. Iddrisu explained that the agreements signal not just procedural alignment but a “shift in culture” from institutional silos to active collaboration, positioning administrative data as a strategic national asset.
Key institutions involved include the Ghana Health Service, Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, the Environmental Protection Authority, and the National Disaster Management Organization, among others. According to him, their combined datasets will form a powerful “administrative data backbone” to support evidence-based decision-making.
Anchored in the Ghana Statistical Service Act 2019 (Act 1003), the MOUs translate the legal mandate to coordinate the national statistical system into practical action. The Government Statistician highlighted that the agreements are complemented by three national frameworks: the Data Quality Assurance Framework (DQAF), the Code of Ethics and Practice for the National Statistical System, and the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS III). Together, these initiatives aim to modernize Ghana’s statistical system, strengthen coordination, and ensure the production of high-quality, reliable data.
Implementation will begin immediately, with the GSS working alongside partner institutions to finalize data-sharing policies, operationalize technical standards, and enhance statistical units within MDAs. Seventeen MDAs have already drafted policies to support responsible and transparent data sharing.
Iddrisu concluded that the initiative is expected to yield a “stronger and more coordinated national statistical system,” improve data quality, accelerate decision-making, and ultimately drive better development outcomes for Ghanaian citizens.
