Peter Y. Mwinlaaru is a Data Scientist at the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) specializing in environmental statistics, alternative data sources, and innovative approaches to official statistics production. He leads Ghana's pioneering AIS-based maritime emissions monitoring initiative, applying the IMO Fourth GHG Study methodology to quantify CO₂ emissions from vessels in Ghana's territorial waters—the first such system implemented by a National Statistical Office in West Africa.
His expertise spans the full data science pipeline: from processing millions of AIS vessel tracking records to developing interactive R Shiny dashboards for policy-ready visualization. He is proficient in R, Python, and Quarto, with advanced skills in spatial data analysis, machine learning, and Reproducible Analytical Pipelines (RAP) for transparent and sustainable statistical production.
Peter has extensive experience working with alternative and large-scale data sources, including satellite imagery (night-time lights), Automatic Identification System (AIS) data, and call detail records (CDRs), integrating these with traditional survey and administrative data to expand the scope of official statistics. He was a member of the winning team at the 2023 UN Datathon.
He holds an MPhil in Economics, a Bachelor of Education in Economics and Mathematics, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Economics at the University of Cape Coast. Peter is passionate about building statistical capacity across Africa and believes that open-source tools and knowledge sharing are essential for data-driven climate action on the continent.