“Ghana’s Journey is Africa’s Journey”: AfrEA President Headlines Inaugural Ghana Evaluation Week

History was made at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) today as the development community gathered for the opening of the Inaugural Ghana Evaluation Week. Delivering the keynote address, African Evaluation Association (AfrEA) President Dr. Miché Ouédraogo championed a vision of robust, indigenous evaluation systems as the bedrock of the continent’s future.

The two-day event (22–23 October), organized under the theme “Ghana’s Evaluation Journey: Progress, Challenges & the Way Forward,” marks a critical milestone in the country’s quest to institutionalize Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) as a tool for public accountability and transformational growth.

A Model for the Continent

In his address, Dr. Ouédraogo commended Ghana’s longstanding commitment to evidence-based governance, acknowledging the pivotal roles played by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and the Ghana Monitoring and Evaluation Forum (GMEF).

“Ghana’s evaluation journey reflects the resilience and ambition of our continent,” Dr. Ouédraogo stated. “By institutionalizing these practices, you are not just checking boxes for compliance; you are building a mirror in which the nation can see itself, correct its course, and accelerate its development.”

Empowering the Next Generation

A central pillar of the President’s message was the necessity of inclusion. Aligning with the event’s focus on capacity building, he highlighted the importance of engaging young professionals. He praised the involvement of the Young Evaluators Community of Practice (YECOP), noting that sustainable development requires handing the “EvalTorch” to a new generation equipped with digital tools and fresh perspectives.

Dr. Ouédraogo emphasized that collaboration is the essence of the #MadeinAfricaEvaluation approach, solving African challenges through shared African expertise and global solidarity. He reminded participants that evaluation is not an end in itself, but the compass that guides us toward a more equitable, transparent, and prosperous Africa.