Ghana’s Parliament has opened a four-day International Data Masterclass aimed at strengthening the ability of Members of Parliament (MPs) to use statistical evidence in legislative debates, oversight, and policy formulation.
The programme, organised in collaboration with the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) and the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS), is designed to deepen data literacy among lawmakers and promote evidence-based decision-making in governance.
Opening the workshop at Parliament House in Accra on Tuesday, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga said the training would enable MPs to better understand societal challenges through data and apply analytical tools in their parliamentary work. He also urged parliamentary research officers, committee clerks, and staff of the Research Department to build their technical capacity to better support legislators.
Mr Ayariga stressed the need to institutionalise the programme beyond a single Parliament, noting that with more than 100 new MPs in the current legislature, continuous training is essential for effective debate, committee work, and constituency oversight.
First Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor, who is also MP for Akatsi South, reinforced the importance of grounding public policy in facts rather than opinion, encouraging lawmakers to rely on credible data in shaping national decisions.
The Clerk to Parliament, Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, described the collaboration with GSS and ONS as part of a broader shift toward strengthening data-driven governance within the legislature, adding that the training would improve MPs’ practical understanding of statistics in policymaking.
Acting Government Statistician Francis Bright Mensah emphasised that reliable and timely data is central to strong institutions, noting that it enables legislators to scrutinise policies, allocate resources effectively, and enhance accountability.
From a governance perspective, Dr Rashid Dramani of the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs said data does not replace political judgement but strengthens transparency and improves institutional performance. He urged Parliament to sustain and formalise the initiative.
The UK Deputy High Commissioner to Ghana, Terri Sarch, reaffirmed continued support through the Office for National Statistics to help deepen the use of evidence in legislative and oversight functions.
The Masterclass is themed “Advancing Evidence-based Parliament: Leveraging Data for Better Decision-Making” and is expected to equip MPs with practical tools to reduce misinformation and improve the quality of national decision-making.
