The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) says data remains a key element in combating Covid-19.

The use of data has helped in monitoring the spread of covid-19, an unstoppable pandemic in the world.

To show data and statistics are indispensable, world statistics day is celebrated yearly.

President of Ghana Statistical Association (GSA), Prof. Nicholas Nsowah Nuamah says data has helped in combating corona virus in the world.

He was speaking at an event to commemorate World Statistics Day and the International Year of Women in Statistics in Kumasi.

“In Ghana, there have been so many deaths and covid cases. If we don’t have data there is no way we can plan,” said Prof. Nsowah Nuamah.

“We are putting on masks, is it because data has shown as there are cases happening? Data is dictating to us the steps we need to take to combat Covid-19.”

The conference is to empower women to change the narrative.

Head of Statistics and Data Science at KNUST, Prof. Atinuke Olusola Adebanji has challenged women to study Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programmes at the tertiary level.

“Mathematics is one of those that are often avoided in the midst of all the other physical sciences. When the lower level is not well stimulated, it will reflect at the top,” Prof Adebanji lamented.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) will be adapting new technology for census operations in 2021.

“The uniqueness of the 2021 census lies in its capacity and capability to switch from paper centric to techno centric approach,” said Abekah Ansah of the GSS.

It is expected that the 2021 census will involve a workforce of 70, 000 at a cost of about $90 million.

For the first time in history, the GSS will deploy the use of tablets in data collection.

“We have already received about 50,000 of the tablets, the remaining 20,000 is being procured by the UNFPA which is a key stakeholder in the implementation of the 2021 census,” said Mr. Ansah.