Vice President Jane Opoku-Agyemang has stressed the government’s commitment to harnessing data for effective governance, innovation, and policy-making. She made the remarks at the Pre-Global Data Festival Ghana High-Level Meeting, held under the theme “Driving Data Innovation, Policy and South-South Collaborations.”
Welcoming delegates on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, the Vice President underscored the centrality of data in governance.
“Data are central to evidence-based solutions, fiscal discipline, and effective planning. Recent reductions in inflation demonstrate the positive impact of data-driven decisions,” she said.
Highlighting ongoing initiatives, she pointed to the 1 Million Coders Program, aimed at boosting digital and data literacy across the country.
“This program is designed to ensure that Ghana and Africa move from being consumers of technology to active contributors,” she explained.
She also commended the work of GoldBod, which she said is leveraging data to combat illegal mining. Beyond that, she noted that ministries and agencies across government are increasingly mainstreaming data in their daily operations.
The Vice President emphasized the importance of partnerships, particularly South-South collaborations.
“The partnership between Ghana, Kenya, and Colombia will allow our countries to learn from one another and craft tailored solutions for shared challenges,” she stated.
She further acknowledged the vital role of international partners including the UN, the World Bank, the private sector, and civil society organizations.
Looking ahead, she urged participants to approach discussions with determination.
“I urge all participants to approach deliberations with clarity and resolve. Ghana is proud to serve on the board of this Global Partnership, and I look forward to next year’s festival in Kenya showcasing significant gains,” she concluded.
