Ghana can use GIS DATA to raise Capital for Infrastructure Development
On March 3, 2025, I made the bold assertion that Ghana can mobilize up to US$40 billion without resorting to further assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Since then, I have articulated several pathways through which this ambitious target can be achieved, including the development of gold-traded investment vehicles. Today, I present an additional, often overlooked opportunity leveraging Ghana’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data as a national asset to attract capital through innovative financial strategies.
As Ghana contends with increasing fiscal pressure to expand infrastructure, address public sector wage demands, promote economic diversification, and meet its climate commitments all without exacerbating its debt burden, the need for innovative financing strategies has never been more urgent. One promising yet underutilized asset is Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data. Traditionally GIS employed in areas such as urban planning, disaster response, and climate risk assessment and is known to possess substantial intrinsic value. Recent global developments now position this data as a viable financial asset.
Under a United Nations-backed initiative, high-quality national datasets including GIS can be formally recognized as intangible assets on a country’s balance sheet. This evolving paradigm offers Ghana a unique opportunity to unlock new sources of capital through mechanisms such as securitization, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and climate finance instruments. The United Nations Committee of Experts on Big Data and Data for Official Statistics (UN-CEBD) is at the forefront of this movement.
According to a 2021 report by the UN Statistics Division, several national statistical offices in Asia and Europe are actively piloting frameworks to reclassify verified datasets including geospatial and administrative data as intangible capital. This shift not only facilitates the inclusion of data in sovereign asset registers but also enhances fiscal transparency and could improve a nation’s credit profile.
If Ghana embraces this emerging global framework, it stands to benefit significantly. Key public institutions including the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA), Lands Commission, National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), and Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) jointly could manage extensive and highly valuable geospatial datasets. These cover areas such as land use, population distribution, transport infrastructure, hydrology, agricultural activity, hazard zones, and climate indicators.
When properly verified, structured, and governed, these datasets can be quantified in financial terms and leveraged to raise billions of dollars in sustainable capital. Unfortunately, much of this data remains fragmented, inconsistently updated, and underutilized in Ghana’s broader development and financial planning frameworks. One of the most promising strategies is the securitization of certified GIS data as intangible capital. This would allow such data to be recorded in sovereign asset registers and used to back GIS-linked financial instruments, including green bonds and development bonds.
Notably, Estonia and South Korea have piloted the recognition of data as sovereign assets, leading to improved national credit profiles. Ghana could follow a similar path and draw lessons from Brazil’s Green Treasury Bonds, which were partly backed by satellite and GIS-based climate monitoring data. Such a strategy could open new doors to environmentally driven investments including from green finance institutions which in turn could help Ghana address pressing environmental challenges like illegal mining (galamsey) and land degradation.
Moreover, global development financiers such as the World Bank, African Development Bank, and the Green Climate Fund increasingly require verifiable, high-resolution spatial data to assess, fund, and monitor development projects. This makes the enhancement and mobilization of GIS data not just a local imperative, but a global opportunity. The commercial potential of GIS data is also rapidly expanding. Sectors such as agriculture, logistics, insurance, real estate, telecommunications, and fintech are increasingly reliant on geospatial intelligence. Therefore Ghana can monetize its GIS capabilities through:
- Data licensing agreements with agritech firms for precision agriculture and yield forecasting
- Subscription-based APIs offering infrastructure and zoning data to construction and telecom firms
- Cloud-based geospatial platforms tailored for disaster response, logistics, and urban development
For example, Kenya’s national Geo-Portal has successfully enabled private sector access to government geospatial data, creating revenue while improving service delivery and urban planning outcomes. GIS data is also central to climate modeling and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) risk assessments both prerequisites for attracting green and sustainable finance. Ghana can use its geospatial assets to design innovative instruments, for example access to high-resolution data on flood-prone areas, drought risks, deforestation, and land degradation will be critical in unlocking support from climate finance facilities such as the Adaptation Fund, helping Ghana address recurring disasters like the seasonal floods in Accra.
By strategically organizing and monetizing its GIS infrastructure, Ghana can not only diversify its sources of capital but also build resilience, improve fiscal transparency, and accelerate sustainable development. Ghana has the opportunity to transform its GIS data from a technical planning tool into a strategic financial asset by establishing a centralized data authority, developing a national valuation model in partnership with global institutions, integrating GIS systems across government agencies, and enacting legal reforms to classify certified data as intangible assets.
With proper governance and capacity building, this approach can led by the Ministry of Finance in collaboration with NDPC, GSS, and the Bank of Ghana to enable Ghana to raise sustainable capital, strengthen its digital economy, and advance progress toward climate resilience and the SDGs.
Dr. Bernard Tetteh-Dumanya is a distinguished Ghanaian financial economist and consultant with nearly three decades of experience spanning academia, corporate finance, and agribusiness. He has held pivotal roles at institutions such as UBA Ghana, SIC Financial Services, Empretec Ghana, and the Swiss International Finance Group, reflecting his profound understanding of global finance. Renowned for pioneering efforts in risk management, compliance, and corporate strategy, Dr. Tetteh-Dumanya has significantly contributed to Ghana’s financial landscape. His expertise encompasses venture capital, business and financial reengineering, and fundraising, playing a crucial role in the growth and development of numerous entities.
Driven by a commitment to capacity development, he has provided consultancy services to a diverse array of local and multinational organizations, including GIZ, AGRA, SNV, DANIDA, and USAID. As the CEO of SGL Royal Kapita, he has introduced innovative investment services targeting Ghana’s agriculture sector, aiming to support farmers and agribusinesses in achieving financial stability and growth. Beyond his professional endeavors, Dr. Tetteh-Dumanya is an influential columnist, offering incisive analyses on Ghana’s economic policies and advocating for strategic financial mechanisms to enhance the nation’s economic sovereignty.
For inquiries, Dr. Tetteh-Dumanya can be reached at: mafioba@yahoo.com
