The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has challenged Members of Parliament to translate data and evidence into better debates, stronger oversight and more informed budget decisions.
Addressing lawmakers at the opening of an International Data Masterclass in Accra, Acting Deputy Government Statistician Francis Bright Mensah said the value of the programme would not be determined by the presentations delivered during the training, but by how participants apply what they learn in Parliament.
“The true measure of this Masterclass will not be how good the presentations are,” Mr Mensah said.
“It will be measured in the quality of parliamentary debates six months from now. It will be measured in budget decisions that are grounded in evidence. It will be measured in the lives improved because a policy was built on facts rather than guesswork.”
The training programme, themed “Advancing Evidence-Based Parliament: Leveraging Data for Better Decisions,” is aimed at strengthening lawmakers’ ability to use statistics and evidence in their legislative and oversight duties.
Mr Mensah, who spoke on behalf of Government Statistician Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, urged MPs to actively engage with the programme and carry its lessons into their committee work and constituency engagements.
“Ask the hard questions. Challenge what you do not understand. And when you return to your committees, your constituency offices, and this very chamber, bring the evidence with you,” he told participants.
He said Parliament occupies a central position in Ghana’s governance system and therefore has a critical role to play in ensuring public policies are informed by reliable data.
According to him, evidence can help lawmakers better assess government programmes, scrutinise spending and advocate more effectively for the needs of their constituents.
“Data strengthens every one of those roles,” he said.
Mr Mensah also stressed that statistics have little impact if they are not used by decision-makers.
“Statistics only create value when they are used. Data sitting in a report that no one reads is a missed opportunity,” he noted.
The Acting Deputy Government Statistician said the Ghana Statistical Service remains committed to supporting Parliament with timely and reliable data, but added that the ultimate goal is to see evidence shaping public policy and improving outcomes for citizens.
“Together, let us transform statistics into evidence, evidence into knowledge, knowledge into action, and action into a better Ghana for all our people,” he said.
Source: MetroTV
