UN Resident Coordinator Presses for Urgent Investment in Data as Ghana Positions Itself as Global Leader Ahead of 2026 Forum

The United Nations has urged governments to step up investment in data systems, warning that progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is lagging badly, with only 15% of targets on track worldwide.

Zia Choudhurry, the UN Resident Coordinator in Ghana, told policymakers, development partners and private-sector leaders at the Pre-Global Data Festival High-Level Meeting in Accra that better data is no longer optional but essential to saving lives, driving growth, and strengthening accountability.

“Investing in data unlocks a true dividend, better policies, smarter investments, and saved lives,” Choudhurry said. He highlighted a Dalberg analysis showing a $32 return for every $1 invested in data systems. “Stronger data systems mean stronger economies, more accountable governance, and faster progress on the SDGs.”

Ghana’s Global Role

Ghana has emerged as a leading voice in advancing data-driven governance. Choudhurry cited the country’s National Data Strategy, the 24-Hour Economy policy, and the Early Warnings for All roadmap launched in 2024 as examples of how governments can integrate data into national priorities.

Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang’s role as a board member of the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data further elevates Ghana’s influence in shaping the global data agenda, he said, amplifying the perspectives of developing economies in international policy forums.

Broader UN Push

The UN has been accelerating its focus on data in recent years, introducing the UN Data Strategy (2021), prioritizing early warning systems (2022), and unveiling the Power of Data High-Impact Initiative (2023). UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called data “the bedrock of a sustainable future” and urged governments to “turbocharge its transformative power” to meet the 2030 Agenda.

Choudhurry stressed that political commitments must translate into action, particularly around ethical use, transparency, and ensuring data is converted into policies that improve lives. “The challenge is not just producing data but ensuring it is used,” he said, warning that most global reports are unread and underutilized despite the resources invested in them.

Impact Beyond Numbers

He underscored the human impact of data-driven policymaking, citing the case of Amina, a 15-year-old Ghanaian student. Attendance records revealed that absenteeism among adolescent girls was tied not to culture or poverty but to a lack of affordable menstrual hygiene products and sanitation facilities. Addressing these issues allowed Amina to stay in school and pursue her dream of becoming a nurse.

“This is what data means, it is about people, dignity and progress,” Choudhurry said.

With the Global Data Festival set for Nairobi in 2026, Ghana’s leadership and the UN’s call for stronger partnerships are expected to shape the continent’s voice on how to finance and scale inclusive data systems. The UN Country Team in Ghana pledged ongoing support to help strengthen statistical institutions, foster digital innovation, and drive South-South cooperation. “Data is central to building resilient economies and achieving the SDGs,” Choudhurry said. “We must move beyond commitments and turn data into real impact.”

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