Accra:Dr. Evans Aggrey-Darkoh, the Head of the Civil Service, has called on Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) practitioners to deliver timely and reliable data to aid decision-making and enhance public service delivery. This appeal was made during the opening of the Ghana Evaluation Week 2026, held in Accra.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Aggrey-Darkoh emphasized the importance of presenting evaluation findings in clear and accessible language to assist policymakers in making informed decisions. He highlighted that evaluation findings should be available when decisions are being made, as delayed reports only serve historical purposes rather than contributing to public benefit.
The three-day event, hosted at the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) at the University of Ghana, gathered M&E practitioners and stakeholders to discuss the theme "The Role of M and E in Strengthening Evidence Use for Inclusive Development Bridging Policy, Practice, and Innovation." The forum aimed to foster a culture of evaluation through dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and networking.
Dr. Aggrey-Darkoh also noted the importance of involving citizens as partners in accountability during evaluation processes and encouraged the adoption of new methods, indigenous knowledge, and technology to enhance the work of practitioners. He stressed the need for clear standards, human judgment, and accountability in using modern tools, including Artificial Intelligence (AI).
He further called for the mentorship of emerging M&E practitioners and ongoing skills development for professionals at district and local levels. Additionally, he urged evaluators to ensure that recommendations are implemented and findings are accessible to citizens, civil society organizations, and the media in understandable language.
The forum provided an inclusive platform for continuous learning and improvement in evaluation practices in Ghana, with discussions covering the use of M&E evidence in various sectors such as gender and equity, local governance, and public financial management. A capacity-building workshop on AI use in M&E was also conducted.
Dr. Audrey Smock Amoah, Director-General of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), announced that the Commission is reviewing the National Monitoring and Evaluation Manual to align it with emerging trends. She called for collaboration among stakeholders to strengthen the country's M&E systems and translate evaluation findings into tangible development outcomes.
Mr. Zia Choudhury, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ghana, expressed support for initiatives to bolster the country's M&E ecosystem and encouraged participants to apply insights from the sessions to improve their practice.