Deputy Finance Minister: Data Investment Boosts Governance

Government is prioritizing investment in quality data to bolster good governance and drive sustainable development, Deputy Minister of Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, has stated.

According to the Deputy Minister, strategic investment in data collection and analysis is crucial for improving public expenditure, empowering citizens, fostering innovation, and ensuring equitable development across the nation.

Mr. Ampem made these remarks at the inaugural 2025 Annual Forum for Data Producers, Users, and Enhancers, held to commemorate the 2025 African Statistics Day. The forum’s theme was “Financing Innovations in Data and Statistics for Sustainable and Inclusive Development.”

He highlighted a shift in the country’s financing approach, moving away from donor reliance towards nationally owned and sustainable investment models. “We are moving from donor-reliant financing arrangements toward a model grounded in national ownership and sustainable investment,” he explained.

The 2026 budget, he revealed, allocates GH₵207 million to key statistical operations, including rebasing the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Consumer Price Index (CPI), completing vital national surveys, and enhancing economic performance and price measurement.

“I am proud to note that the 2026 budget allocates GH₵207 million to advance critical operations,” Mr. Ampem said.

Furthermore, the budget supports the expansion of the Monthly Indicator of Economic Growth (MIEG), positioning Ghana among a select group of countries utilizing near-real-time data for economic management. This, he noted, will allow for policy responses up to 10 weeks faster than traditional quarterly estimates.

A significant reform underway is the integration of administrative data systems leveraging the unique identifier provided by the Ghana Card. This is projected to reduce future census costs by over 70 percent while ensuring a continuous flow of high-quality population and sectoral data.

“This innovation is projected to cut future census costs by over 70 percent, while delivering continuous, high-quality population and sectoral data,” the Deputy Minister stated.

The government also launched “Ghana in Numbers,” a new annual publication presenting data visually and benchmarking it globally, aiming to translate statistics into compelling narratives for both the public and policymakers.

To strengthen the statistical ecosystem, the government is reviewing the Statistical Service Act to enhance the independence, authority, and international standing of the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).

“Without quality data, planning becomes speculative, policymaking becomes inefficient, and development outcomes become uneven,” Mr. Ampem emphasized. “Data drives smarter investments. It ensures that public resources are directed where they are needed most.”

Ghana, he added, has made considerable progress in modernizing its statistical landscape, delivering West Africa’s first fully digital Population and Housing Census, with data processing three times faster than previous cycles. The country has also institutionalized high-frequency surveys providing real-time insights into welfare, labour market trends, and business dynamics.

Government Statistician, Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, underscored the importance of the forum’s theme, stating, “Nation becomes what it measures, what it funds, and what it chooses to understand.” He added, “When we produce data well, fund it sustainably, and use it consistently, we strengthen institutions, protect the vulnerable, and open opportunities for every community.”

Dr. Wilfred Ochan, Co-Chair of the GSSDP Group, affirmed the GSS’s commitment to producing quality data and called for continued investment, stating, “Data on its own is not informative unless it is credible, accessible, and put to good use.”

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