Stakeholders make case for open data in Africa at report launch

Abstract

The maiden edition of The Africa Data Revolution Report has been launched in Accra, Ghana, with calls for governments and other data producers to make data open, accessible and free. The report was presented during a panel discussion on the margins of the 2nd Africa Open Data Conference, as a way of empowering citizens and enhancing democracy. We have resolved to ensure that government data is legally and technically open. Open data will encourage citizens to hold government accountable and ensure greater transparency. Open data must work in Ghana for the benefit of the citizenry. The data ecosystem in Africa with reference to the production, distribution and use of data by public, private and civil society actors, as they relate to the SDGs. The report is jointly published by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), World Wide Web Foundation and Open Data for Development Network (OD4D).