On June 19–20, 2025, 90 officers from the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) in Kumasi participated in a Statistical Literacy Training, hosted under the HISWAP (Improving Statistics in West Africa) project. The training focused on strengthening concepts around data collection, methodology, and fundamental statistical analysis to enhance migration data accuracy.
Why This Matters
GIS plays a key role in managing migration and border control. Officer in charge of GIS’s Statistical Unit, Chief Superintendent Anita Gyasi, emphasized that reliable, accessible, and accurate data is essential for planning. Training helps officers gather and use data effectively to track trends and report on operations.
Programme & Capacity Building
The course covered:
- Statistical principles and concepts
- Data recording methodologies from regional and border posts
- Basic analysis and data integrity practices
- Collaboration with relevant agencies like Ghana Statistical Service, NIA, and Birth & Death Registry to ensure interoperability.
Senior statistician Victor Boateng Owusu stressed the necessity of evidence-based development, emphasizing that “development should be based on data and not emotions”.
Regional Impact & Funding
HISWAP, funded by the World Bank and the Bank of Ghana, is implemented by the Ghana Statistical Service across 13 agencies. Its goal is to build sustainable, trusted regional data systems through harmonised methods and quality assurance.
Why It Matters
| Benefit | Implication |
|---|---|
| Data-Driven Migration Policy | Better data aids national immigration planning |
| Border Control Efficiency | Reliable reporting supports security mandates |
| Gov’t Evidence Use | Enables data-informed decision-making across agencies |
| Regional Harmonisation | Aligns GIS with national standards for consistency |
What’s Next
- Rollout nationally – GIS will extend training to officers at other border posts.
- Data quality checks – Ongoing verification of data submitted by trained officers.
- Policy influence – Enhanced migration statistics to influence national planning.
- Expanded training – Potential inclusion of advanced data analytics modules.
Final Take
Training 90 immigration officers in statistical literacy marks a vital leap forward for Ghana’s data governance. Anchored in the HISWAP initiative, this effort elevates GIS’s capacity to capture reliable migration data—supporting improved border management, policy development, and regional data integration. It’s a strategic push toward a more evidence-based public service landscape.
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