The Government Statistician, Professor Samuel Kobina Annim has called for a new era of consistent development in Ghana.
With conviction in his voice, he addressed the cyclical fluctuations that have plagued the nation’s progress for too long.
He was speaking at the opening ceremony of the StatsBank Hackathon.
“We continue to go to the IMF, we continue to see spiraling inflation,” Professor Annim began, his eyes focused on the audience.
“We’ve achieved single-digit inflation before, but still, our development continues to experience cyclical fluctuations. We need to end that. The only way to end that is by realising the data environment that we have now, which is called the data deluge! We have produced data, and we need to manage that deluge.”
The room was filled with anticipation as he continued, “That is why we are saying, ‘Come on board, bring your fresh ideas, and harness different technologies.'”
With a glint of hope in his eyes, Professor Annim expressed his desire for a future where policymakers’ statements and figures could be swiftly analysed with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
“I wish Ghana can get to the state where if policymakers are making statements and they mention figures, you guys can come up with AI that immediately compares the figures across different policy documents and see how those figures associate with what we have in other documents.”
This vision of data-driven governance resonated deeply with the audience, sparking a sense of purpose among the university students gathered at the Hackathon.
Following Professor Annim’s inspiring speech, Prof Grace Bediako, the Board Chair of the Ghana Statistical Service, took the stage and acknowledged the initial efforts of the participating teams. With a proud smile, she encouraged them to apply themselves fully, emphasising the importance of delivering their very best.
Background
In a groundbreaking collaboration between the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) and Statistics Denmark, the StatsBank Hackathon emerged as a platform for young minds to transform their data prowess into impactful solutions. The mission was clear: harness the power of data, and end the cyclical fluctuations in Ghana’s development.
As the Hackathon gained momentum, it was evident that the participating universities, including the University of Ghana, Legon, the University of Cape Coast (UCC), the University of Health and Allied Sciences, the University for Development Studies (UDS), and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), were on a collective quest for data-driven excellence.
The challenge was to unravel the potential of GSS StatsBank and use census data for policy-relevant research. It wasn’t just a competition; it was a journey toward reshaping the future of Ghana through data innovation.
The inaugural StatsBank Hackathon ignited a spark of ambition and determination in the hearts of these young minds, and the stage has been set for an epic battle of intellect and innovation that promises to reshape the nation’s data landscape. As the teams from the various universities gather, they bring with them fresh ideas and a shared commitment to make history. The journey has only just begun, and the quest for ultimate glory is about to unfold.
Check out reps from the various schools:
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