Ghana brought together senior leaders from government, international institutions, civil society, academia, and the private sector this week to show the country’s commitment to shaping the future of data-driven governance across Africa and beyond. Held in Accra, the event highlighted Ghana’s leadership in data and statistics transformation, and set the stage for deeper South-South collaboration ahead of the 2026 Global Data Festival.
The Vice-President of Ghana, H.E. Prof. Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, delivered a keynote on the country’s priorities on data, innovation, and leadership at the Pre-Global Data Festival Ghana High-Level Meeting, where she was welcomed as the newest member of the Board of the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data.
“The government of Ghana believes that policy must be informed by facts, shaped by reality, and designed for inclusive impact to achieve the Ghana we want. Thus, we have anchored governance in a data-driven and evidence-informed approach. Ghana is not going it alone. The Make Inclusive Data the Norm project, with our colleagues from Colombia and Kenya, is an example of how the Global South can design solutions that reflect the realities of underserved populations and how citizen-generated data can shape better outcomes. As we look toward next year’s Global Data Festival, Ghana will continue to showcase her best practices and innovations—from tax data modernization at the Ghana Revenue Authority, through the use of mobile data for official statistics and disaster risk reduction planning, to innovation in data science and machine learning, and more.”
H.E. Prof. Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana
Reinforcing a shared commitment to regional cooperation and South-South learning, the event featured key institutions of the Government of Ghana, including the Ghana Statistical Service, the United Nations in Ghana, the Governments of Kenya and Colombia, Development partners in Ghana, civil society, the private sector, academia, and others.
Their collective message was clear: data is central to inclusive and sustainable development, and together they are committed to prioritizing financing, institutional transformation, and inclusive participation.
“Ghana has long been a leading voice in data transformation, combining national leadership with active global engagement. The Ghana Statistical Service has worked to institutionalize data stewardship across government, making data not the business of one office but a shared responsibility across ministries, departments, and agencies. This meeting is therefore more than a dialogue. It is a platform to showcase innovations, forge new partnerships, and ensure that Africa’s data stories take their rightful place on the global stage in Nairobi next year.”
Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, Government Statistician, Ghana Statistical Service
“Kenya and Ghana share many similarities- importantly, we both pride ourselves as some of the pioneering countries on the continent, making bold steps to strengthen our statistical systems. In particular, I would like to highlight our joint work on initiatives like innovative data collection, using citizen data, and championing inclusive data, which have truly set us apart. We are proud to these efforts and we are proud to be leading this work from the south, so that other countries can learn from us.”
Dr. Macdonald George Obudho, Director General of Kenya National Bureau of Statistics
The Minister of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations. Hon. Sam N. George, represented by his Deputy, Hon. Mohammed Adams Sukparu, announced plans for a One Million Coders initiative to expand youth skills and employment, and confirmed Ghana’s participation in the 2026 Festival, including support for a ministerial roundtable in Nairobi.
The day featured two panel discussions. The first focused on advancing national data leadership through stronger coordination, financing, and institutional transformation, with contributions from the Ghana Statistical Service, the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, mobile network operators, and civil society. The second explored scaling inclusive data systems through South-South partnerships, with reflections on digital rights, equitable partnerships, citizen perspectives, and practical steps to scale inter-regional learning ahead of the Festival.
“The UN Country Team remains fully committed to supporting national efforts to harness the power of data for sustainable development. Together with government and development partners, we will support efforts to invest in stronger statistical systems, promoting innovation in data use, and facilitating platforms for data partnerships, including collaboration with the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data.”
Zia Choudhury, Ghana Resident Coordinator, United Nations
“Our presence here today also reflects Colombia’s renewed commitment to deepen its ties with Africa. The relationship between Ghana and Colombia is rooted in history in the shared heritage of Afro-descendant communities and is today enriched by new forms of cooperation such as this one. Through data and innovation, we are weaving a stronger fabric of solidarity and mutual progress”.
Kelis Zulay Moreno, Charge’ D Affairs, Embassy of Colombia to Ghana
“Moments like this happen when core institutions and line ministries lead, open doors, and invite collaboration. Ghana’s government has done just that, combining national reform with global leadership and showing that true partnership drives progress. Today’s goal is to build political consensus on data’s role in policy and innovation, showcase successful ground projects, and highlight a few standout initiatives to attract investment, talent, and attention. These will be showcased at the Global Data Festival in Nairobi, with the full support of the Government of Kenya.”
Dr. Claire Melamed, CEO, Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data
The Global Data Festival 2026 will be organized by the Global Partnership in collaboration with partners and co-hosted with the Government of Kenya. The Festival will run over four days in Nairobi. Sign up for the Festival newsletter.
