“Better dialogue on statistics for better development

results”: Meeting data needs of users in Ghana through the

National Statistical System

Bamako23-25 June, 2014

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Outline of the Outline of the presentationpresentationThe National Statistical System

(NSS) in GhanaWho are the stakeholders?What data are requested?How does the NSS meet the data needs of users?

Challenges of the NSSAttempts at overcoming the challenges

Role of the GSDP (NSDS)Impact of GSDP/NSDS in Ghana 2

The National Statistical The National Statistical System (NSS)System (NSS)

This system looks at a holistic approach to the production and effective utilisation of official statistics

All units producing statistical information play their part and complement each other’s work through exchange of information, sharing of standards and statistical resources (EA maps, questionnaires, data collection templates, etc.)

The NSS assures uniformity of direction, methods and processes of official statistics

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Who are the stakeholders? Who are the stakeholders? Stakeholders within the NSS are individuals,

institutions and all others who have a role to play in the production of statistics. They include:◦ Government - a major stakeholder◦ Data Producers – GSS/MDAs/MMDAs/NGOs, etc◦ Individuals who supply the information (Respondents)◦ Data Users (Government, Individuals, Businesses,

Training & Research Institutions, International organisations, Development Partners).

◦ Experts from Training and Research Institutions, government, private and non-governmental institutions, Multi-lateral financial institutions

◦ Resource providers /Development PartnersThe Ghana Statistical Service plays a coordinating

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What data are requested?What data are requested?• Economic data (National Accounts, Trade,

Industrial, Agric. & Price Statistics)• Social & Demographic Statistics, including

Census and Survey data (Population, Labour, Crime, Health, Education, etc)

• Geographic Information System (GIS) Data (Information on Enumeration Areas, Maps)

Number of requests from Jan - May, 2014• Economic data - 30• Social and Demographic Statistics - 93• GIS Data - 29

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How does the NSS meet data How does the NSS meet data needs?needs?

• Dialogue with stakeholders to know their data needs and incorporate them when designing surveys

• Document data requests from Gov’t, MDAs Researchers, DPs, international bodies, and students

• Carry out routine data collection and disseminate results (e.g., CPI, PPI, GDP)

• Conduct periodic surveys and censuses such as GLSS, DHS, MICS, PHCs, Agric, Industrial and Population Censuses

• Survey and Census reports and data disseminated through electronic media, workshops and uploaded onto GSS website

• Data Centre set up to respond quickly to data requests (Archiving/Production/Dissemination Units)

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ChallengesChallenges of the NSS of the NSSCoordination challenges

• Different Laws guiding different institutions in terms of statistics production (GSS Law (PNDCL135); Civil Service Law 1993 (PNDCL327); etc)• Proliferation of data with quality concerns

Institutional challenges/weaknesses• Gaps in human resources available (inadequate skills)• Difficulty in recruiting and retaining professional staff• Poor terms and conditions of service

Data Gaps• Inability to produce the range of statistics users need

such as data on climate change, pollution• Long delays and irregular release of data

Inadequate resources to support statistics production

• Inadequate budgetary resources• Issue of sustainability where donor support is involved7

Attempts by the NSS at resolving the Attempts by the NSS at resolving the challengeschallenges

• Institutional reform of GSS (the Coordinator)oDrafted a new Statistics ActoDesigned new organogramoRe-assigned all staff into the new organogram

• Capacity building for all categories of staff/MDAs

• Improve quality and use of statistics oPrepared manuals on standards, concepts, definitions,

classificationsoAttempt to re-activate the National Advisory Committee

of Producers and Users of Statistics (NACPUS)• Source funding from Development Partners

while dialoguing with Government for increased budgetary support

• Administrative sources of data targeted by resourcing statistics units of MDAs through the provision of equipment and training (eg Births and Deaths Registry to get 10 Mobile Registration Vans and Cross Country vehicles for monitoring their activities 8

Role of Ghana Statistics Development Role of Ghana Statistics Development Plan (GSDP/NSDS)Plan (GSDP/NSDS)

Facilitate Institutional Reform and Organizational Change

Made possible by redrafting a new Statistics Act which is under consideration by Cabinet

Enhancing capacity of GSS and MDA statistical units, improving statistical framework and investing in physical infrastructure and equipment

Improving data production, management, dissemination, communication and outreach through modernisation of data collection procedures and ICT

Ensuring quality assurance through monitoring and evaluation and User Satisfaction Surveys 9

Impact of GSDP/NSDS in GhanaImpact of GSDP/NSDS in GhanaFull scale implementation starting in 2014 with

10 Ministries, Departments and Agencies. Some positive impact have, however, been made.

• Donor Coordination Donors collaborated with stakeholders in the National

Statistical System (NSS) to agree on the priorities for funding. Donors have, therefore, aligned better with national priorities

• Attraction of additional funding to statistics• Appreciable amounts of resources have been received

over the years from DPs for statistical activities (UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, USAID, JICA, KOICA, DANIDA, DFATD (formerly CIDA), EU, DFID, ILO, etc (About $30. 4m from 2011-2014)

• Improved collaboration among stakeholders in the NSS

• Increased demand for GSS statistical products and services

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Thank you for your attention!

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