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Ghanaian lawmaker Albert Nyakotey Tetteh recently emphasized in parliament the importance of using public sector data for infrastructure development, reflecting a broader issue across Africa where insufficient data hinders economic progress. With challenges like supply chain disruptions and energy shortages, countries need accurate information to set effective policies; however, shrinking budgets are complicating efforts to gather such data. For example, Statistics South Africa's budget has dropped by 23% in real terms since 2019, leading to cutbacks in surveys and questions about the credibility of its figures. Despite these challenges, there is optimism that artificial intelligence could improve statistical analysis efficiency and accuracy across the continent.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-05,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
African countries are facing significant challenges due to a lack of reliable data, which is essential for effective policy-making and economic development. According to Ghanaian lawmaker Albert Nyakotey Tetteh, "policy without data is like guesswork." This issue is exacerbated by the cancellation or delay of donor-funded surveys since the United States ended funding last year for population surveys that provided critical public health statistics.
In South Africa, the average annual budget allocation for Statistics South Africa has dropped by 23% in real terms since 2019, as reported by authorities in May. This reduction is causing significant strain on data collection efforts and hindering governments' ability to understand crucial metrics such as the value of underground mineral deposits or pension fund assets.
The head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention highlighted the problem with a health ministry audit revealing that half of salaried health staff in one country were "ghost workers," emphasizing the need for accurate data to address systemic issues effectively.
Written for “Africa Data Initiatives” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning: leans left for article 57623 (medium confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-10-05
Claims extracted
16
claim-shaped sentences
Uncertain
12%
2 of 16 hedged
Leaning
Leans left
of the writing, not the subject · beta estimate
Correction & hedging signals
95.0
corrections and hedging in what we collected;
not a measure of accuracy
Outlets on this story
1
Politics
Narrative spread
1
articles carrying this framing
Ghanaian lawmaker Albert Nyakotey Tetteh was making the case for better use of public sector data in infrastructure development when he said that in parliament last month.
asserted
he → make → parliament
But his point rings true more broadly: For decades, a lack of data has held back economic development in countries across Africa.
asserted
lack → ring → Africa
Countries reeling from supply chain disruptions, energy shocks, and Western aid cuts are trying to comprehend the scale of the challenges they face in order to reset policies.
asserted
they → reel → policies
Gathering relevant data is a vital first step to understanding everything from the value of underground mineral deposits to the money held in pension funds.
asserted
Gathering → gather → funds
As a case in point, the director-general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention recently told me a health ministry audit in one country revealed half of salaried health staff were “ghost workers.”
asserted
half → tell → staff
However, shrinking budgets throw up a major challenge.
asserted
budgets → shrink → challenge
In May, South African authorities said the average annual budget allocation for Statistics South Africa — the government department responsible for gathering and publishing official statistics — had fallen by 23% in real terms since 2019.
uncertain
allocation → say → 2019
The knock-on effect is a resource squeeze that has led to surveys being cut.
asserted
surveys → knock → ?
At the same time, questions have been raised about the credibility of its figures.
asserted
questions → raise → figures
South Africa’s 2022 census missed nearly a third of the population, according to the statistics department’s own follow-up survey.
uncertain
census → miss → survey
A mismatch on that level distorts how public money is allocated.
asserted
money → distort → level
The continent’s biggest economy, whose statistical analysis is comprehensive compared with most other African nations, is not alone in its challenges.
asserted
analysis → compare → challenges
African statistics offices are under mounting funding pressure, with donor-funded surveys cancelled or delayed since Washington ended funding last year for population surveys whose findings were used by governments to collate public health statistics.
asserted
findings → mount → statistics
Artificial intelligence can help by improving the efficiency and accuracy of statistical analysis.
asserted
intelligence → help → analysis
The UK’s statistics office recently said it is turning to AI to cut costs and improve data amid “squeezed finances.”
asserted
it → say → finances
The impact would be felt even more acutely if African officials use this technology to help take the guesswork out of policymaking.
asserted
officials → feel → policymaking
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