Dr. Alhassan takes office as new Government Statistician

Dr Alhassan Iddrisu has been appointed by President John Dramani Mahama as Ghana’s new government statistician, encouraging him to base the country’s strategic data utilisation plan and evidence-guided decision-making.

The swearing-in ceremony, which took place at the Jubilee House in Accra, was witnessed by government stakeholders, including the Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Ministers for Interior, Health, Defence, Communications, and Justice, and prominent leaders.

During his acceptance speech, Dr Iddrisu described the appointment as a call to patriotic service, promising to lead data transformation to enhance Ghana’s socio-economic goals.Dr Alhassan Iddrisu stated that “This is a call to lead the charge in placing data and evidence at the heart of governance and national transformation. In a rapidly changing world where information drives prosperity, the role of the Ghana Statistical Service has never been more crucial than now.”

Sharing his goals for the GSS, Dr Iddrisu is dedicated to transforming the institution into a dynamic and technology-driven agency.  His primary targets include updating the Consumer Price Index (CPI) methodology, broadening inflation data reporting to the district level, and improving price comparison precision between urban and rural areas.

He also disclosed plans to shorten the GDP rebasing cycle from ten to five years and to start publishing regional GDP figures, informing data-driven local economic decisions. Dr Alhassan Iddrisu provided new insights into the upcoming launch of Monthly Indicators of Economic Growth (MIEG) to support the Bank of Ghana’s Composite Index of Economic Activity.

He highlighted on the employment statistics, the necessity of reliable tracking of job market trends, pledging quarterly updates on employment and unemployment data measuring the effectiveness of government initiatives and the employment situation for young people.

Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, an economic specialist with extensive experience with a background in macroeconomic policy and statistical analysis, steps into the role with a mandate to revitalise the GSS and strengthen its role as an essential player in the development of Ghana.

Dr Alhassan Iddrisu reiterated that “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.”

READ: WAEC Warns: Examination malpractice undermines national security and quality workforce