Ghana’s adoption of digital tools for national data collection is transforming the country’s ability to track governance, corruption and inclusion, according to findings released in Accra during the launch of the Governance Series Wave 2 Report.
Presenting the data, Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu said the use of technology is now central to producing credible statistics that reflect citizens’ lived experiences. “Using our 2021 Population and Housing Census frame and Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI), we reached people faster, more reliably, and with stronger comparability over time. This is what modern national statistical systems must look like,” he said.
Wave 2 of the Governance Series, conducted from July 28 to August 20 with a reference period of January to June, marks the second national update on how Ghanaians encounter public institutions. Dr. Iddrisu noted that the shift to digital systems is part of a broader push to ensure that evidence, not assumptions, guides national decisions. “And the truth is that none of that happens without good data. Not guesses, not assumptions, but real evidence,” he said.
He added that African Statistics Day serves as a reminder that statistics are essential for development. “They shine a light on realities we would rather not confront, and they guide decisions that shape our future.”
The modernised system has also helped strengthen comparability over time, improving the country’s ability to monitor progress on areas such as bribery, political inclusion and service delivery gaps. The Statistical Service says the faster turnaround delivered by CATI allows governance data to remain current, improving its usefulness for reforms.
Dr. Iddrisu said Ghana’s investment in digital data systems is part of a broader continental effort. “Ghana’s launch of Wave 2 is our contribution to Africa’s collective vision. It shows that innovation in data is not abstract. It changes how we govern, how we deliver services, and how citizens experience the state.”
He urged government institutions, civil society and development partners to put the findings to active use. “Let’s not let these findings sit on shelves… Evidence must guide reforms, shape advocacy, and inform debate.”
The event, held at the Assemblies of God Head Office in Accra, formed part of the 2025 African Statistics Day celebration under the theme “Leveraging Innovations in Data and Statistics to Promote a Just, Peaceful, Inclusive and Prosperous Society for Africans.”
