Statistics for Africa must be produced by Africans – Ben Hammouda

African statisticians have been called upon to take charge and lead in producing the statistics needed for economic planning on the continent.

Speaking at the closing of the First Joint Session of the Committee of Directors General of National Statistics Offices and the Statistical Commission for Africa, Friday December 12, 2014, Hakim Ben Hammouda, Tunisia Minister of Finance said, the work of statisticians is very important because “without reliable statistics economic policy projections for Africa cannot be done,” adding “statistics for Africa must be produced by Africans.”

While acknowledging the importance of support from development partners, he insisted, “the first responsibility lies with us.”
He therefore called on African leaders to show the political will and provide the resources for the development of statistics on the continent.

The conference was under the theme “Agriculture and Food Security in Africa” and it was held from December 8 to 12, 2014.
It was attended by Director Generals of National Statistics Office of African Countries, the Heads of departments of statistical units of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Schools and Institute of statistics, AFRISTAT and other Development Partners.

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi, back from Tunis, Tunisia