The Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama, has called for the establishment of a dedicated electronic portal to make national statistical data more accessible and usable for research, policymaking and economic analysis.

He said the proposed platform should provide underlying data in accessible, machine-readable formats to enable researchers, academics, policymakers and other users to apply artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and advanced analytical tools to uncover trends and relationships in the data.

Speaking at the launch of the maiden edition of the Ghana in Numbers 2025 report in Accra yesterday, Dr Asiama said improved access to reliable statistics would strengthen evidence-based decision-making and help institutions better understand the country’s socio-economic conditions.

He commended the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) for the initiative, describing the publication as an important national resource that brings together authoritative information to support policy formulation, business decisions and public understanding.

Dr Asiama said high-quality data remained fundamental to the Bank of Ghana’s monetary policy decisions and financial-sector regulation, particularly in assessing inflation, exchange rates, economic activity, credit conditions and external developments.

He said advances in data science, AI and machine learning offered opportunities to improve economic forecasts, assess risks and generate insights from complex datasets.

The Governor disclosed that the Bank of Ghana was strengthening its analytical capacity through the establishment of a Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Department.

He added that the Bank was also developing a directive to regulate the use of AI in the financial sector, as part of efforts to promote innovation while addressing emerging risks.

On macroeconomic conditions, Dr Asiama said inflation had remained in single digits for 13 consecutive months, while the exchange rate was relatively stable despite external headwinds.

He also said resilience in the banking sector had improved significantly, with lending conditions becoming more favourable.

According to him, the average lending rate declined from 30.25 per cent in December 2024 to 15.78 per cent in September 2026.

Growth in real private-sector credit also increased from 0.20 per cent in December 2024 to 26.42 per cent in September 2026, he said.

Dr Asiama said a stable macroeconomic environment and a well-functioning financial system were important for improving access to finance and supporting productive economic activity, particularly among young people.

He said the country’s large youth population presented significant opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship, but realising that potential would require relevant skills, enterprise development and an enabling investment environment.

The Governor said reliable demographic, social and economic data would help policymakers identify gaps in opportunities and design interventions that responded to the needs of young people.

The maiden edition of Ghana in Numbers 2025 is themed “Youth and the Demographic Transition”.

Dr Asiama urged stakeholders to regard the publication not merely as a statistical report but as a national resource for assessing progress, understanding challenges and making informed decisions about Ghana’s future.