The
Gambia Bureau of Statistics yesterday started a two-day forum for users and
producers of statistics at a hotel in Kololi.
The
forum was geared towards sharing with stakeholders the level of data
availability within the National Statistical System (NSS).
The
two-day event was part of GBoS’ commemoration of this year’s African Statistics
Day on the theme ‘Strengthening economic statistics for regional integration,
structural transformation and sustainable development’.
Nyakassi
M.B. Sanyang, statistician general, said strengthening dialogue between
producers and users of statistics should be a core activity of every national
statistics office.
He
said such dialogue helps in the overall coordination of statistical activities
as it provides both parties with relevant information on what prevails in the
statistical environment.
In
The Gambia, GBoS annually organises such forum on November 18, the time all
relevant statistical authorities in Africa commemorate the African Statistics Day.
“This
year, the time coincided with so many activities taking place which involved
key stakeholders and hence the event could not be held at the time,” Mr
Sanyang.
He
further noted that over the years, the celebration focused on issues related to
the importance of statistics in development planning and policy formulation.
Baboucarr
Sarr of the National Statistical Council said good economic data are a
precondition to effective macroeconomic management.
He
explained that with the complexity of modern economies and the lags inherent in
macroeconomic policy instruments, every country must have the capacity to
promptly identify any adverse trends in its economy and to apply the
appropriate corrective measure.
“This
cannot be done without economic data that is complete, accurate and timely,” Mr
Sarr said.
“The
availability of good economic data is increasingly seen by international
markets as an indicator of a country that is a promising destination for
foreign investment.”
The
public availability of reliable and up-to-date economic data also reassures
international investors by allowing them to monitor economic developments and
to manage their investment risk.
Sarr
noted that slow and incomplete reporting of critical economic data creates
uncertainty.
He
said: “The public availability of good
quality economic data allows firms and individuals to make their business
decisions with confidence that they understand the overall macroeconomic
environment.
“As
with international investors, local business people are less likely to
overreact to a piece of bad news if they understand the economic context.”
On
behalf of the UN Resident Coordinator, Abdoulie Janneh, UNDP national
economist, said the two-day forum organised by GBoS has the potential to help
in the strengthening dialogue between producers and users of statistics in The
Gambia.
