President John Dramani Mahama has formally appointed Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu as the new Government Statistician, entrusting him with the critical task of embedding reliable data and evidence into Ghana’s national development strategy.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at Jubilee House in Accra and was graced by notable figures including the Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson; the Minister of the Interior; the Minister of Health; the Minister of Defence; the Minister of Communications; the Minister of Justice; along with other esteemed guests.
In his inaugural speech, Dr. Iddrisu expressed heartfelt appreciation to President Mahama for the confidence placed in him and vowed to regard his new role not just as a position, but as a vital national responsibility. “This is a call to lead the charge in placing data and evidence at the heart of governance and national transformation,” he stated.
He emphasized the increasing importance of the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) in a world where information fuels economic growth. Dr. Iddrisu articulated an ambitious vision for the GSS, pledging to transform it into a modern, technology-driven, and agile institution that produces credible, timely, and pertinent data to bolster Ghana’s macroeconomic stabilization efforts and socio-economic growth initiatives.
Among his immediate priorities is the expedited rebasing of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to enhance the quality of inflation data, as well as extending CPI reporting to the district level to align with the government’s decentralization objectives. He also committed to generating inflation statistics that differentiate between rural and urban areas to better reflect price variations across the nation.
In terms of economic indicators, Dr. Iddrisu announced plans to rebase Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) every five years, a marked improvement from the current decade-long cycle, and to initiate the production of regional GDP statistics to guide local policy-making. He also hinted at the introduction of Monthly Indicators of Economic Growth (MIEG) to complement the Bank of Ghana’s Composite Index of Economic Activity (CIEA).
Addressing the issue of employment data, Dr. Iddrisu revealed intentions to standardize the release of quarterly employment and unemployment figures to effectively monitor labor market trends, job creation linked to government initiatives, and youth unemployment rates.
“With the continued support of the President, the Honourable Finance Minister, our development partners, and the citizens of Ghana, I am dedicated to collaborating with the exceptional team at GSS to establish our Service as a world-class institution and a reliable cornerstone in Ghana’s developmental journey,” Dr. Iddrisu affirmed.
Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, an accomplished economist and statistician, brings a wealth of experience in macroeconomic management, public policy, and data analysis to his new role.
