Economist Professor Godfred Bokpin has delivered a strong critique of public discourse in Ghana, arguing that national conversations are too often driven by emotion rather than evidence.
He emphasised the urgent need to prioritise data, its use, accessibility, and relevance, in shaping public policy.
Professor Bokpin made the remarks during a panel discussion at the 2025 Annual Forum for Data Producers, Users, and Enhancers, where he underscored that putting data at the centre of national dialogue is essential for sound economic decision-making.
“As an academic, I put more emphasis on data than gold because I can do without gold. Countries have managed their affairs without gold deposits. I will choose data over gold. I will choose data over oil. I will choose data over every input because, without data, nothing gets done. That is how important data is,” he said.
He noted that although the Ghana Statistical Service generates vast amounts of valuable data, much of it remains underutilised. He called for stronger efforts to harness this resource for economic planning and business strategy.
