President John Dramani Mahama has inducted Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu as Ghana’s new Government Statistician, urging him to base the country’s transformation agenda on reliable data and evidence-based policymaking
The swearing-in ceremony, held at the Jubilee House in Accra, was witnessed by key government officials including the Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Ministers for Interior, Health, Defence, Communications, and Justice, among other dignitaries.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Iddrisu described the appointment as a solemn national calling, pledging to spearhead 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,” Dr. Iddrisu said. “In a rapidly changing world where information drives prosperity, the role of the Ghana Statistical Service has never been more crucial than now.”
Outlining his vision for the GSS, Dr. Iddrisu committed to modernizing the institution into a dynamic and tech-savvy agency. His immediate priorities include updating the Consumer Price Index (CPI) methodology, extending inflation data reporting to the district level, and enhancing the accuracy of rural-urban price comparisons.
He also announced plans to shorten the GDP rebasing cycle from ten to five years and to begin publishing regional GDP figures, enabling more informed local economic planning. Dr. Iddrisu further 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, he emphasized the need for consistent tracking of job market trends, promising quarterly updates on employment and unemployment data to reflect the performance of government initiatives and the status of youth employment.
Dr. Iddrisu, an experienced economist with a background in macroeconomic policy and statistical analysis, steps into the role with a mandate to revitalize the GSS and reinforce its role as a key player 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,” Dr. Iddrisu affirmed.