GSS partners 25 MDAs to improve data sharing and national planning

Accra, March 12,  – The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with 25 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to enhance coordination within the national statistical system.

The agreement aims to improve the quality, coordination, and responsible sharing of administrative data generated across public sector institutions to support national development planning.

Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, Government Statistician, said the MoUs establish clear working arrangements between the GSS and partner institutions.

Under the agreement, the GSS will work with these institutions to finalise data-sharing policies, strengthen statistical units within MDAs, and operationalise technical standards to ensure data interoperability across government systems.

“In practical terms, these MoUs define what data will be shared, how, and when. They also designate focal persons, establish technical standards, and introduce review mechanisms to ensure the system works effectively,” Dr Iddrisu explained.

He highlighted that government institutions have long generated large volumes of data that were often fragmented, stored in different systems, and managed with varying standards, making them less accessible for policymaking and national planning.

“By working together, we can transform these datasets into a powerful national asset. As the saying goes, data is gold,” he said.

The initiative aligns with the Ghana Statistical Service Act, 2019 (Act 1003), which mandates the GSS to coordinate the national statistical system, set standards for official statistics, and facilitate the sharing of administrative data while protecting confidentiality.

Dr Iddrisu noted that about 17 MDAs had already drafted data-sharing policies, which were currently being refined for public access to enhance transparency and responsible data use.

As part of the effort to strengthen the statistical system, the GSS will roll out three key policy documents:

1. Data Quality Assurance Framework – to ensure that statistics produced across government are accurate, consistent, and reliable.

2. Code of Ethics and Practice for the National Statistical System – to reinforce professionalism, integrity, and confidentiality.

3. National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS III) – providing a roadmap for modernising Ghana’s statistical system and improving coordination across institutions.

Mr Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, emphasised the importance of credible statistics for economic management and national planning, noting that the 2026 budget provided resources to support priority statistical initiatives.

“Every major decision taken by governments rests on one foundation: information. Reliable data leads to confident decisions; incomplete or inconsistent data creates uncertainty,” he said.

Mr Thomas Nyarko Ampem, Deputy Minister of Finance, said successful implementation of the agreement would strengthen Ghana’s ability to measure progress, evaluate policy impact, and deliver development outcomes.

Institutions involved include the Ministry of Gender and Social Protection, Ministry for the Interior, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Creative Arts, Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, as well as agencies like Ghana Health Service, Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Environmental Protection Authority, National Communications Authority, National Disaster Management Organisation, and the Births and Deaths Registry.

GHBUSS

12 March 2026