The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) in collaboration with the Regional Institute for Population Studies have launched the Maiden District Rankings Report and the GhanaStatsMobileApplication in Accra.
The important event which marks the third annual collaboration was to promote data-driven discourse on
key population issues.
Speaking to participants, the Chairperson of the Ghana Statistical Service Governing Board, Dr Grace Bediako outlined some key points for the gathering such as Ghana’s population prospects, disseminate
district-Level Population Projections, and Launch of the Maiden District Rankings Report and the GhanaStats App.
“Population data is not just numbers; it represents lives, aspirations, and challenges”, Dr. Bediako noted.
According to her, in understanding the demographic trends, it is better to plan for sustainable development, allocate resources effectively and improve the quality of life for all Ghanaians.
“It is especially necessary that such data is available at the sub-national levels”, she said.
In highlighting on the global theme for this year’s World Population Day celebration, which was, “Embracing the power of inclusive data towards a resilient and equitable future for all” and highlights the importance of disaggregated data, she indicated that the programme will prominently feature the depth of official statistics available at the sub-national level for development planning.
“Today, we will share key findings at the global level from the 2024 Revision of the World Population Prospects and discuss implications of the recently released national and regional population on Population Projections”, she added.
Since the completion of the 2021 Population and Housing Census, the Statistical Service in collaboration with colleagues from academia has produced 27 publications and developed statistical products providing
disaggregated data such as the GSS StatsBank, and the Digital Census Atlas.
She noted that the launch of the Ghana Stats application is a testament to the Statistical Service’s commitment to providing user-friendly and diverse statistical products to promote uptake of data for policy and planning.
Also, the Senior Policy Advisor, Office of the Vice President, Prof. Kwaku Appiah-Adu who spoke on behalf of Government touched on the critical role that population data plays in shaping the nation’s future and leveraging available resources for both the present and next generations.
He further reiterated that Government aligns with the focus on disaggregated data at the
district level in the programme
revealed some disparities and inequalities that national-level
data often obscures that the census projects.
” As such, this detailed data is crucial for effective policymaking, targeted interventions, and achieving development goals”, he noted.
Prof. Appiah-Adu again stressed that the release of district-level population projections anchors the
understanding of future demographic trends as the population projections help in economic planning, urban and regional planning, and forecasting future demand for resources and
services.
” The statistics to be released today will enable informed decision-making to promote inclusive and sustainable development”, he stated.
According to him, government is particularly pleased that the statistics highlighted in the
mobile application and its complementary report are inspired by Ghana’s Vision 2057 Long-term National Development Framework which reflects our shared vision for attaining upper middle-income status before the nation’s centennial.
” A discourse on Ghana’s population prospects is relevant and timely given the current global and national population trends”, Prof. Appiah-Adu noted.
The 2024 Revision of the World Population Prospects highlighted the urgency with which developing countries (like Ghana with youthful populations and declining fertility)have limited time to benefit economically from these demographic changes and make critical investments in education, health, and the economy.
He therefore outlined some of the ways in which government will utilise the available statistics to formulate effective strategies, allocate resources efficiently, address pressing challenges, to inform infrastructure development, social services planning, and national decentralisation efforts.
In affirming our dedication to using population data as a compass for Ghana’s progress, he said, government is working together with stakeholders to ensure that every citizen benefits from well-informed policies and programmes.
“We also pledge to leverage the Ghana Stats Mobile Application to empower local leaders, thereby promoting effective targeted interventions and equitable development”, he added.
He commended the stakeholders for organising such important event.
” we further commends GSS for their continued commitment to promoting the use of statistics and producing such depth of data to support evidence-based decision making”, he noted
The statistics currently available in the Ghana Stats App are inspired by the Ghana’s Vision 2057: Long-term National Development Perspective
Framework, which aims to improve the living standards of Ghanaians and attain an upper middle-income country status.
As such, it is a tool designed to support progress tracking and the design of targeted interventions as well as raising the statistical literacy of the population.
As we reflect on the information presented today, let us commit to making data driven decisions that will help us achieve our national development goals and build a Ghana where every district thrives, leaving no one behind.
Source: GSS
