UK Government Launches International Data Masterclass in Ghana: Empowering Data-Driven Decision Making

In a ground-breaking initiative to foster excellence in data and analytical literacy among senior leaders, The UK is thrilled to announce the launch of the international Data Masterclass in Ghana. 

As the world becomes increasingly data-driven and recognising the pivotal role that data plays in shaping policies, the UK is committed to fostering a culture across government where decisions are grounded in robust driven insights in order to leave no one behind. 

The international data masterclass in Ghana is set to improve data and analytical literacy and help non-analytical leaders and future leaders across government put data and evidence at the heart of decision making. 

This comprehensive program will cover a spectrum of topics including data analysis, data science and data visualisation, equipping participants with the essential skills to navigate the complexities of the modern data ecosystem. 

Participants will have the unique opportunity to learn from relevant case studies and keynote talks from leading data and statistics experts such as the Ghana Government Statistician Professor Samuel Kobina Annim and the UK National Statistician Sir Ian Diamond.

Deputy British High Commissioner, Keith McMahon said;  

“Understanding the language of data is key to making evidence-based decisions. Today, I am delighted to launch the International Data Masterclass; an online tool to improve a culture of data and analytical literacy which will contribute to the creation of impactful policies”.

Speaking at the Launch, Deputy Government Statistician Dr Faustina Frempong-Ainguah said; 

“It is our expectation that Senior Government Officials, Chief Directors, Directors will enrol to take this International Data Masterclass programme to: put data and evidence at the heart of their decision-making, gain the required skills to create and support a data culture in their organisation and assignments, understand how they can use data to improve the way they make decisions, craft policies, and communicate compelling narratives to advance the course of our national development“.  

She also said; 

‘The GSS is happy to collaborate with the UK Office of National Statistics (ONS) to launch the International Data Masterclass. Our partnership with ONS dates back to 2018, aiming at supporting GSS in our statistical modernisation and transformation agenda to improve the use of quality, relevant and timely data for national development.’

While the primary target audience of the data masterclass are non-analytical leaders and future leaders, the course is available to all management level professionals and serves as a refresher for those who are analytical.

The course will go live on Monday 4th December 2023. It will be available via the UN learning Hub, here http://bit.ly/3R6rSDD. It is free to access globally with no deadline.   

About The Course 

The International Data Masterclass is an online course which has been designed by the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS), in collaboration with the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD).

The course is built around eleven keynote talks delivered by heads of national statistics departments from countries across the world and leading experts in data and analysis including the Ghana Government Statistician, Professor Samuel Annim, and the UK National Statistician Sir Ian Diamond.

UK-Ghana Partnership 

The UK is committed to fostering a culture across government where decisions are grounded in robust data driven insights in order to leave no one behind.

The UK continues to collaborate with the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) through the UK’s Office for National Statistics’ technical assistance and capacity building partnership. This partnership has supported the 2021 Population and Housing Census (PHC), helped upgrade the national Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) reporting platform, as well as funding for surveys such as the Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS). Overall, our support, which we provide through the ONS-GSS partnership, and which is extended to the wider National Statistical System, will assist in the modernisation of statistics to help improve the quality, timeliness, and value of data for national and local level development.