Our History

The Department of Data Science and Economic Policy was established in August 2018 as part of the formation of the School of Economics at the University of Cape Coast — an event that marked a significant milestone in the evolution of economics education within Ghana's public university system. UCC's School of Economics was the first dedicated School of Economics to be established within a public university in Ghana, and DSEP was conceived from the outset as its most distinctive and forward-looking department.

DSEP was carved out of the former Department of Economics, which had been one of UCC's most established academic units. The rationale for creating a new, specialist department was grounded in a clear recognition that the demands of twenty-first century governance, development planning, and economic management had moved far beyond what traditional economics departments could adequately address. Evidence-based policymaking increasingly requires professionals who can not only understand economic theory and principles, but who can also handle large and complex datasets, build quantitative models, apply machine learning techniques, and translate analytical findings into policy-relevant recommendations.

The period from 2018 to the present has been one of sustained growth. The Department has grown from a small specialist unit with a narrow programme offering to a vibrant academic community running multiple postgraduate programmes, hosting two specialist research and policy centres, attracting externally funded research projects, building formal partnerships with national and international institutions, and delivering capacity-building services to government agencies, the financial sector, and civil society organisations.

In 2025 the Department submitted four programmes to GTEC for accreditation and reaccreditation. GTEC has since accredited the BSc, MPhil and PhD in Data Science and Economic Policy, extending the Department's offering from first degree through to doctoral study and marking the next major phase in its academic development. Looking ahead, the Department will establish its Data for Development Lab and deepen its role as a national hub for data literacy and evidence-based policy.

The history of DSEP is, in part, the history of a broader transformation in how Ghana's leading universities are responding to the data revolution.