Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, Government Statistician, has called for stronger measures in data-driven policymaking to sustain the development of the country.
Speaking at the pre-Global Festival of Data stakeholders meeting in Accra, he emphasized that data must move beyond being mere numbers on paper to serve as a lifeline for policymaking, accountability, and national development.
He said the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has worked over the past year to institutionalise data use across ministries, departments, and agencies.
This includes promoting citizen-centered data collection, integrating community voices into national statistics, and deploying real-time data systems to improve decision-making.
“From climate change to geopolitics, the issues before us demand more than intelligence. They demand action,” he stressed, calling for data to be fully harnessed in shaping inclusive and resilient societies.
Mrs. Claire Melamed, Chief Executive Officer of the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data, praised the country’s leadership in driving data innovation and partnership.
“We are here to celebrate Ghana’s longstanding leadership on data and to turn that momentum into collective action for our region and for the world,” Mrs. Melamed said.
She highlighted Ghana’s role in the Power of Data Coalition, pointing out that its political leadership has inspired reforms across Africa and beyond.
Mrs. Melamed explained that the 2026 Global Data Festival, to be co-hosted with Kenya, will be a landmark event showcasing how data, artificial intelligence, and technology can unlock solutions for pressing global challenges.
Stakeholders at the meeting pledged stronger collaboration, investment, and innovation to reinforce national and global data ecosystems, ensuring that data becomes a true public good driving sustainable development.
The meeting brought together ministers, diplomats, civil society leaders, academics, private sector actors, and the media, underscoring Ghana’s role as a continental leader in the data transformation agenda.
The pre-festival meeting, organized in collaboration with the Government of Canada and international development partners, sets the stage for the Global Festival of Data scheduled to take place next year.
