President John Dramani Mahama has officially inducted Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu as Ghana’s new Government Statistician, emphasizing the importance of reliable data and evidence-based policymaking in the country’s transformation agenda.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Jubilee House in Accra, attended by notable government officials, including Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson and other ministers from various sectors.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Iddrisu characterized the appointment as a significant national responsibility, pledging to lead a data revolution to support Ghana’s socio-economic goals. “This is a call to lead the charge in placing data and evidence at the heart of governance and national transformation,” he stated, highlighting the crucial role of the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) in today’s information-driven world.
Dr. Iddrisu outlined his vision for modernizing the GSS into a dynamic, tech-savvy agency. His immediate priorities include updating the Consumer Price Index (CPI) methodology, extending inflation data reporting to the district level, and improving the accuracy of rural-urban price comparisons.
He announced plans to reduce the GDP rebasing cycle from ten to five years and to start publishing regional GDP figures, facilitating more informed local economic planning. Additionally, he revealed the upcoming launch of Monthly Indicators of Economic Growth (MIEG) to complement the Bank of Ghana’s Composite Index of Economic Activity.
On employment statistics, Dr. Iddrisu stressed the need for consistent tracking of job market trends, promising quarterly updates on employment and unemployment data to reflect government initiatives and youth employment status.
With his extensive experience in macroeconomic policy and statistical analysis, Dr. Iddrisu is poised to revitalize the GSS and reinforce its role in Ghana’s development. “With the enduring support of the President, the Honourable Finance Minister, our development partners, and the good people of Ghana, I am committed to working with the exceptional team at GSS to position our Service as a world-class institution and a trusted pillar in Ghana’s development journey,” he affirmed.
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