Statistics Must Be Demystified - Oti-Boateng

Sogakope (V/R), July 7, Dr. Oti Boateng, Government Statistician, said today Ghana can realize its aspirations of building a strong, vibrant and self-sustained economy if the foundations of policies and programmes are based on accurate statistical information. "We believe that statistics, as a tool for development, must be demystified and made more user friendly," he said. Dr. Boateng said this when he opened a four-day workshop for policy makers and planners on the access and usage of statistical data for economic policy and planning at Sogakope. The 30 participants are drawn from a cross-section of the public sector who are major users of statistical data produced by the Statistical Service. The workshop, organized by the Statistical Service with support from the World Bank and EMS of Ghana Postal Services Company, is aimed at expanding the utilization of existing statistical data. It also aims at introducing the participants to some of the data produced by the service and promote a better use of data in planning and policy making. Dr. Oti Boateng expressed the hope that as more institutions and individuals start using statistical data, demand for statistics will be generated and expanded to assist in the development of the country. He said the Statistical Service, with the assistance of the United Nations Development Programme, is in the process of setting up a Human Development Indicators Unit to come out with a Human Development Index (HDI) for Ghana on a continuous basis. Dr. Oti Boateng said a report on trends in demographic, family planning and health indicators in Ghana (1960-1993) is being prepared with the primary objective of providing information needed by policy makers and programme administrators. It is to assess the current situation and design more effective population, family planning and maternal and child health programmes.