The Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) hosted the 2025 edition of the Evidence to Action Conference and Exhibition (E2A2025), building on the successful delivery of the 7th edition in 2024. Hosting this international conference for a second consecutive year underscores ISSER’s commitment to partnerships that elevate research, inform policy, and support inclusive development across the continent.
Delivering the welcome address at the opening ceremony, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, commended ISSER for its consistent leadership in convening high-level, policy-relevant dialogue.
“It indicates the value that we put to our partnerships. As a university committed to being relevant to national and global development, we are proud to host a diverse mix of development actors and stakeholders to discuss pertinent issues bordering on sustainable development in Africa,” she said.
Themed “Advancing Participatory Governance for Sustainable Development in Africa,” the conference provided a platform for critical reflection and the exchange of ideas on inclusive governance and evidence-based policymaking.
Minister affirms Government’s commitment to participatory and inclusive governance
The Honourable Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, who delivered a keynote address at the opening ceremony, highlighted the alignment between the conference theme and government priorities.
“This is very timely and resonates with us as a government pursuing the Resetting Agenda. The theme ties in perfectly with the vision of the Ministry, which is to attain decentralised local governance, uphold traditional values, promote religious coexistence, and ensure a clean environment for equitable and balanced development.”
The Minister further highlighted the importance of participatory governance in the African context.
"Sustainable development, as we all acknowledge, cannot be achieved without the existence of functional and robust participatory and inclusive governance systems and structures in place. In Africa, particularly here in Ghana, participatory governance is not merely a theoretical idea. It is a fundamental necessity rooted deeply in our cultural, social and political fabric."
He emphasized that governance extends beyond the state to include ordinary citizens, communities, traditional authorities, faith-based organizations, and civil society organizations as active participants in policy-making processes that shape Ghana's developmental agenda.
Whole-of-institute commitment to partnerships
ISSER’s role extended far beyond providing a venue. In the lead-up to the conference, the Institute co-hosted a pre-conference media engagement with the International Centre for Evaluation and Development (ICED) and the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana).
Additionally, ReFinD, ISSER’s flagship research initiative, organised two high-impact side events under the themes “Bridging the Last Mile: Evidence in Expanding Digital Finance to the Last Mile” and “Enhancing Governance in Agent Banking Networks for Deeper Financial Inclusion at the Last Mile.” Both events contributed significantly to building momentum for the main conference.
Throughout the conference week, ISSER researchers and staff played central roles as speakers, moderators, and technical leads -- demonstrating a whole-of-institute approach to collaboration, learning, and research-to-policy engagement.
Beyond the side events, both ReFinD and ISSER actively participated in the conference exhibition, setting up dedicated booths to display their research outputs and activities. These exhibition spaces provided valuable opportunities for direct engagement with conference participants, showcasing the breadth and impact of the Institute's research work.
Fostering clarity, commitment, and capacity for participatory governance
The conference not only highlighted compelling evidence on the role of participatory governance in sustainable development but also showcased innovative approaches to enhancing research communication, accessibility, and stakeholder engagement.
Reflecting on the event, ISSER Director Prof. Peter Quartey, described E2A2025 as a fruitful and exciting conference, whose impact has been deepened by the impressive participation of young people.
“We’ve learnt so much about good governance and the communication of evidence in accessible formats. We’ve also built the capacity of young people, and I’m especially happy they have been a part of this,” he said.
Call for sustained action
Describing the conference as a resounding success, ICED Board Chair Dr Namanga Ngongi reinforced the impact of the event, stating, “We leave here with renewed clarity and commitment to co-create African solutions that are home-grown, inclusive, and driven by data and community voice.”
He urged participants to take the lessons forward saying, “Let us not allow these three days of dialogue to remain within these walls. Let us act on the key action points that have emerged.”
He outlined key recommendations from the conference including strengthening participatory governance, promoting equitable economic opportunities, rethinking civil society financing, institutionalizing evidence-informed policymaking, and advancing African-led development models.
Addressing the media at the close of the event, Dr David Ameyaw, President and CEO of ICED, echoed the core message of the conference.
By involving all stakeholders and listening to the voices of the vulnerable and marginalised, we can shape policies that drive sustainable development. Participatory governance starts at the grassroots—everyone has a role to play,” he said.
Held from 14th to 18th July 2025, the 8th edition of the conference convened researchers, policymakers, civil society actors, development partners, and private sector representatives from across the globe. The success of E2A2025 not only reflects ISSER’s unwavering commitment to evidence-informed engagement, it also underscores the enduring value of collaboration in advancing inclusive and sustainable development.
- Log in to post comments