Why this matters
A portfolio is how you show employers that you can do the work, especially when you do not yet have the job title. Two or three complete, honest projects on real data tell an employer more than any list of courses. Projects on Ghanaian or African data also show you understand the context employers here work in.
Where to find data
- Ghana Statistical Service (statsghana.gov.gh): publishes census reports, survey reports and statistical tables free on its website. More detailed microdata are offered through its microdata catalogue. You register, agree to terms of use (for example, no redistribution and no attempt to identify anyone), and some datasets also need a formal data request. Read and follow those terms.
- Open data from public bodies and development partners: many publish datasets on agriculture, health, education and prices. Always record the source and licence.
- Data challenge platforms: Zindi runs data science challenges focused on Africa, and Kaggle hosts many public datasets and competitions. Check each dataset's licence before publishing work on it.
- Your own collection: a small, consented survey or prices you record yourself at a local market.
Never use leaked data, scraped personal data, or data from an employer without written permission.