SIMPLIFYING STATISTICS FOR DEVELOPMENT

PRESIDENT J. A. Kufuor has urged African countries to empower statistical institutions to deliver data to support national development efforts. He explained that statistics were fundamental to the success of the governance and development process, but often they were unavailable when needed because many of the statistical systems required further development, re-organisation and more effective management.
Statistics enable us to know where we are coming from, where we are and where we are going to. A careful analysis of these processes will determine whether the country is making progress or retrogressing or the process of development has become stagnant.
It is unfortunate that in spite of the crucial role of statistics in the national development process, both users and producers of statistics are unable to find common grounds concerning the growth and development indices.
Interestingly, whenever statistical data favour a particular group of people, it is quick to use them to its advantage, while the group at a disadvantage attempts to discredit the data. Nonetheless, truth stands. This is where every year some Ghanaians always scream at the top of their voices that the statistics do not reflect in their pockets.
They forget that in this world, just as wants are insatiable, so are people’s expectations very high. These expectations are difficult to measure, but because of the demonstration effects, these expectations are believed to represent the needs of the generality of the people.
The Daily Graphic believes that the time has come for all of us to accord statistics the pride of place in our development process. Certainly, the statistical figures from credible organisations such as the Ghana Statistical Service and the Bank of Ghana cannot be cooked or doctored.
After all, 15 years ago, the country’s development profile was not at the level where we are presently. Today, all kinds of houses have sprung up in all the cities, towns and even villages, satellite dishes have been installed in many homes, while Internet protocols are common spectacles in most urban areas. Vehicles of all makes and sophistication ply our roads and yet Homo Sapiens are never satisfied.
Sometimes one wonders how those who complain about the hard times want to measure the level of the statistics in their pockets. Some of the people who complain display affluence at funerals, at drinking bars and in the churches, but are quick to mount rooftops and proclaim that “life is hard”.
All over our cities and towns, one is greeted by all manner of merchandise, indicating that consumption levels have peaked beyond what was the case a few years ago. This must be an indication that the country is moving forward towards the attainment of its development goals, although we still fall short of locally manufactured goods in the system.
However, the Daily Graphic calls on the government to adequately resource the Ghana Statistical Service and the Bank of Ghana to perform their statutory functions to regularly tell Ghanaians about the performance of the economy and give accurate forecast to facilitate proper planning.
We also call on all other agencies such as the Ghana Meteorological Agency to also do well to bring people abreast of the climatic situation in the country for improved food production and safety in our air-space.
It is also important for these institutions to make their data user-friendly by demystifying statistical figures so that ordinary citizens can apply them for their own good and for the betterment of society.