Statistics Denmark (Danmarks Statistik) and the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) have outlined the scope of a new Internally Generated Funds (IGF) framework aimed at strengthening the institutional sustainability and operational capacity of Ghana’s national statistical system.
The engagement forms part of ongoing efforts to enhance the long-term resilience of the Ghana Statistical Service by drawing lessons from international best practices. Particular attention was given to Denmark’s institutional financing model, under which approximately 40% of Statistics Denmark’s funding is generated through income-producing activities and specialized statistical services.
The collaboration builds on a longstanding partnership between the two institutions. In 2019, Statistics Denmark and the Ghana Statistical Service commenced a strategic cooperation programme focused on the use of administrative data for the production of official statistics. Areas of collaboration included price statistics, trade statistics, the establishment of a national statistics databank, statistical quality assurance frameworks, and metadata compilation.
The partnership has delivered several significant outcomes for Ghana’s statistical ecosystem. Among the most notable achievements was support for the rebasing of Ghana’s Consumer Price Index (CPI), which improved the accuracy and representativeness of inflation measurement and expanded statistical coverage from 10 to all 16 administrative regions.
The cooperation also facilitated the establishment of a comprehensive data quality framework designed to guide government institutions involved in data collection and official statistics production. The framework has strengthened consistency, reliability, and transparency across Ghana’s national statistical system.
In the area of trade statistics, experts from Statistics Denmark worked closely with the Trade Statistics Department of the Ghana Statistical Service to develop and publish Ghana’s first-ever Unit Value Index (UVI) for imports and exports. The index provides policymakers, businesses, and researchers with a more sophisticated tool for analysing trade trends and monitoring changes in the value of traded goods.
Another major milestone has been the completion of a feasibility study on integrating administrative records from Ghana’s Births and Deaths Registry into the Ghana Statistical Service’s data systems. The study paves the way for a formal data exchange mechanism that will improve the timeliness, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness of demographic statistics and vital registration data.
The second phase of the partnership, spanning 2024 to 2027, seeks to deepen statistical capacity development through the use of disaggregated administrative data and survey methodologies. The programme also places emphasis on strengthening public trust in official statistics and enhancing the ability of the Ghana Statistical Service to provide relevant, timely, and demand-driven data to government institutions, the private sector, development partners, and the general public.
The collaboration further exposes Ghana’s statistical ecosystem to Danish experiences in public-private partnerships and digital innovation. As part of this effort, the programme is working with Danish digital solutions company Cbrain on the digitalisation of the Tree Crop Development Authority’s farmer registration processes. The initiative is expected to improve data collection and enable the Ghana Statistical Service to generate comprehensive statistics on tree crop farmers and agricultural production.
Beyond the technical outcomes, the Ghana-Denmark statistical partnership represents an important pillar of bilateral cooperation between the two countries. For Ghana, the collaboration supports evidence-based policymaking, institutional sustainability, digital transformation, and the production of high-quality statistics required for national development planning.
For Denmark, the partnership advances its commitment to international development cooperation, knowledge transfer, and the promotion of robust statistical systems that support good governance and sustainable development. Collectively, the initiative demonstrates how international statistical cooperation can strengthen state institutions, improve data-driven decision-making, and contribute to inclusive economic growth in both Africa and Europe.
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