Ghana’s public discourse is driven by emotion, not data – Bokpin

Economist Professor Godfred Bokpin has criticised the nature of national conversations in Ghana, saying discussions are too often emotional and opinion-driven instead of grounded in evidence. He stressed the urgent need for the country to place data at the centre of policymaking and public dialogue.

Speaking during a panel session at the 2025 Annual Forum for Data Producers, Users, and Enhancers, Professor Bokpin said data is the most essential resource for national development.

“As an academic, I value data more than gold. Countries function without gold, but nothing can be done without reliable data,” he said.

He pointed out that although the Ghana Statistical Service collects large amounts of critical data, the country fails to take full advantage of it in planning, policymaking, and business decisions.

“There is an enormous amount of data generated by the Ghana Statistical Service. They do much more than announcing GDP figures. But how often do we depend on data in our daily discussions? This country is a talk show country,” he noted.

He explained that many media debates are dominated by emotional opinions and political bias because they are not guided by factual information.

“If we were a data-driven country, disagreements would be fewer, arguments would be less emotional, and discussions would be more constructive. Data speaks for itself,” he said.

According to him, once data becomes central to national debates, people will discuss issues based on facts rather than political identities, leading to more effective reforms.

“If inflation is 6.3%, the data shows it clearly — you don’t need anyone to interpret it through party colours. Our conflicts and dogmatic debates persist because people don’t look at the data,” Professor Bokpin explained.

He concluded by calling for greater access to data, improved usage, and a national culture that treats evidence as the foundation for progress.