Liberia: LISGIS Boss Cautions Against Inadequate Usage of AI for Data Collection

He said the use of AI and other global technologies for data collection would help policy makers transform Liberia and the region at large if adequate training are provided to various stakeholders in the sector

MONROVIA -The Director General of the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) Richard Ngafuan has cautioned against the inadequate use of global innovative technologies for the collection of statistical data across various countries in the West African region.

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By Obediah Johnson

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According to him, the use of global innovations, especially Artificial Intelligence (AI) could negatively or positively impact statistical data collection.

Speaking at the start of a week-long Leadership and Statistical Management Training for Managers for National Statistical Statistical

Systems of ECOWAS member states in Monrovia on Monday, October 5, Mr. Ngafuan called for the improvement of statistical data collection for the formulation of policies for the benefit of citizens in the region.

He stressed that the capacity of National Statisticians and Managers must be developed in global technological innovations needed in the statistical space to enhance their capacity.

“The world is moving fast and statistics is obviously positively or negatively affected by the innovations around Artificial Intelligence (AI). What can we do as NSOs in terms of accelerating our own capacities and improving the capacity of our staffs to harness and to make use of Artificial Intelligence and the various innovations that are require in our statistical space.”

He said the use of AI and other global technologies for data collection would help policy makers transform Liberia and the region at large if adequate training are provided to various stakeholders in the sector.

He further commended ECOWAS for its numerous supports to Liberia. He pointed out these supports have enhance the capacity of Liberia to progress to a new era of statistical production.

Ngafuan recalled that ECOWAS has contributed immensely to the statistical capacity of Liberia in many ways, including human resource capacity building.

“Today we are very proud to welcome not just technicians, but top managers and heads of statistics bodies. We cannot downplay or underestimate the role of ECOWAS Statistics. We have trained most of our staffs. As we go through these deliberations it is very crucial for us to know that many times we sent our staffs for training. But this time around, we ourselves are key participants in terms of this leadership training.”

Highlighting Liberia’s report within the framework of the regional economic onlook, Mr. Ngafuan disclosed that the report focuses on food security and other statistical data that can be used by policy makers to transform the country.

He, however, expressed the hope that the training would help participants gain knowledge on aspects of regional transformation in Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The Leadership and Statistical Management Training for Managers for National Statistical Systems of ECOWAS member states is covering various topics on the role of leadership in national statistical systems, strategic leadership and institutional vision, governance and statistical quality, ethical leadership and statistical integrity.

It would also look at the quality management of official statistics, digital transformation of statistical systems, introduction to AI and machine learning, applications for the collection, processing and dissemination of data, ethics, governance and risks related to AI, communications and the valorization of statistics, amongst others.

The ongoing training was organized and hosted by ECOWAS Regional Statistics System and LISGIS.