Zaudu Ayisha, representing the Regional Coordinating Director, highlighted the report’s role in advancing transparent, data-driven governance. Speaking on behalf of Hajia Pognaa Fati Koray, she commended the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) for providing evidence to guide reforms and helping institutions understand citizen-state interactions.

This year’s African Statistics Day focused on leveraging data innovations for a just, peaceful, and prosperous society. The Governance Series Wave 2.0 results show both progress and remaining challenges. Bribery prevalence declined from 18.4% to 14.3%, reflecting improvements in public service delivery, partly due to digitisation.

John Gambo, Upper West Regional Director of GSS, explained that the survey monitors bribery, corruption, and inclusiveness under SDG 16. Wave 1 covered 2024, while Wave 2 assessed experiences from January to June 2025. Ghana is the first country to measure bribery based on citizens’ personal experiences, earning commendation at the UN High-Level Political Forum in New York.

The celebration also emphasised embracing innovations such as AI, big data, and geospatial tools in statistical practices. From a civil society perspective, Salifu Kanton of the Community Development Alliance stressed translating the data into actionable policies.

Drawing from over 15,000 households, the dataset reveals governance gaps, particularly in citizen inclusion and persistent corruption. He urged stronger community engagement, institutional responsiveness, and policy reforms to address inequalities while balancing development and environmental protection.

The launch underscores the critical role of credible data in shaping effective, inclusive governance and sustainable national development.