GIS tackles faulty data with nationwide training
By Rebecca Okine
The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has launched a comprehensive training program aimed at enhancing the statistical capacity of its officers, with the goal of improving the quality and interoperability of immigration data across the country.
The initiative, dubbed the GIS Statistical Literacy Training, targets officers at regional and border posts and equips them with essential data collection and analysis skills.
The move is part of efforts to promote evidence-based decision-making in national security and development planning.
Senior Statistician and Lead Facilitator for the training, Victor Boateng Owusu, emphasized the importance of statistical literacy during an interview.
“Statistics is very crucial for our national development because development should be based on data, not emotions. If officers don’t handle or understand data and the analysis that goes with it, we cannot produce quality data,” he said.
Mr. Owusu explained that the program goes beyond teaching officers how to collect information. It also focuses on improving data quality and ensuring that GIS data aligns with that of other key institutions.
“Data from the Immigration Service should be interoperable with the Ghana Statistical Service, the National Identification Authority, and the Births and Deaths Registry,” he noted.
The lead facilitator for the training stressed the need for harmonized, high-quality data that meets national planning standards. “We don’t just want to collect data for collecting’s sake. We need to improve the quality and ensure that the data serves national planning purposes,” Mr. Owusu added.
