President John Mahama has assured the newly sworn-in Government Statistician, Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, of full independence in the discharge of his duties, pledging that there will be no political interference in the production of national data.
Speaking during his swearing-in ceremony, and the new 2nd Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, President Mahama emphasized the need for credible and timely data.
He encouraged Dr. Iddrisu to provide real-time statistics, regardless of how uncomfortable the results may be for the government, in order to support academia, the private sector, and the investment community.
He stated, “Change of leadership, it affirms our commitment to evidence-based governance, data-driven policy and institutional excellence in the public service.”
“As president, I believe sound decisions must be rooted in sound data and facts and that is why the Office of the Government Statistician is of such vital national importance.”He said.
“The Ghana Statistical Service is not only a custodian of our national data, it is a strategic partner in development planning, economic management and democratic accountability.”He asserted
He continued, “The decisions we make as a government on issues such as poverty alleviation, youth unemployment, regional development and social protection are only as effective as the data on which they are based.”
“In this regard, appointing a new government statistician is not a routine administrative action, it is a strategic move to strengthen the foundations of data governance, improve public sector performance and enable citizens, businesses and policymakers alike to access credible information on the state and direction of our nation.” He added.
“Ladies and gentlemen, today we welcome Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu into this high office with complete confidence in his experience, professionalism and integrity.”
President Mahama highlighted that the new Government Statistician brings a distinguished track record in statistical research, institutional development, and applied data analysis to this role.
He emphasized that this background will be crucial as the service takes on new responsibilities in line with emerging national and global data priorities.
“We live in a data-intensive age and Ghana cannot afford to fall behind in collecting, harmonizing and disseminating reliable statistics,” He remarked.
“Whether tracking inflation and GDP, monitoring SDGs progress, mapping climate impact, or preparing for the next population census, the Ghana Statistical Service must lead with credibility, independence, and innovation.”
“Let me use this opportunity to reaffirm government’s commitment to protecting statistical services professional independence. Statistical integrity is not a luxury, it’s a necessity,” President Mahama added.
President Mahama also pointed out that citizens must believe that the numbers published by the service are objective and factual, free from political interference.
“Investors must be assured that Ghana’s macroeconomic data is credible. Development partners must know that our results framework are measurable and verifiable,” he stated.
He urged Dr. Iddrisu to lead with courage and impartiality, to speak truth to power, even when the data is uncomfortable.
“Work closely with stakeholders, ministries, academia, civil society organizations, and the private sector to strengthen the culture of data use across government. Under this administration, we’re building a governance model anchored in transparency, performance and accountability,” President Mahama said.
He also pointed out that timely and disaggregated data is needed in sectors like health, education, agriculture, and urban planning.
“And that is why we’re investing in digital transformation, upgrading data infrastructure and deepening the use of administrative data for real-time monitoring. The Ghana Statistical Service must be at the center of this transformation,” President Mahama emphasized.
“I’m particularly excited about the services’ role in supporting the rollout of our key initiatives such as the 24-hour economic policy, the Ghana CARES program, the national apprenticeship scheme and our inclusive education and health reforms. These programs require granular real-time data to ensure that the most vulnerable are reached and that no one is left behind,” he continued.
He concluded his address with a charge to the newly sworn-in government statistician: “Be bold, innovative and fiercely professional. You’re assuming a role that demands more than technical knowledge. It requires moral courage, clarity of vision and a commitment to public service.”
“Lead the service into a new era of excellence that embraces new technologies, deepens public trust and makes data accessible, actionable and transformative. You will have my full support and the support of this administration. But you’ll also be expected to hold us accountable to ensure that we govern not by assumption but by evidence,” President Mahama said.
He also stressed, “Ghana’s future must be built on facts and not fiction. In a world of increasing complexity, data must be our compass. Institutions like the Ghana Statistical Service help us navigate wisely and plan confidently.”
“Let us all commit to supporting the service and its new leadership in this national task. Congratulations once again to our new government statistician. I wish you wisdom, strength and success in your tenure. May God bless you. May God bless the Statistical Service and bless our homeland, Ghana.”
The new Government Statistician, Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, welcomed the assurance and pledged to lead a data-driven transformation of the Statistical Service.
He promised to produce regular employment and unemployment figures, including jobs created under government flagship programs. He also committed to disaggregating GDP data by regional contribution.
Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu stated, “The President of the Republic of Ghana, Ministers of State, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I stand before you today deeply honored and profoundly grateful for the privilege to serve as the Government Statistician of our beloved nation Ghana.
I sincerely thank President Mahama for the trust reposed in me and the Minister of Finance for his unwavering support. I accept this appointment not merely as an office but as a solemn and sacred call to national duty.
“It is a call to lead the charge in placing data and evidence at the heart of governance and national transformation’ ‘He mentioned.
In a rapidly changing world where data and information drive prosperity, the role of Ghana’s statistical service has never been more crucial than now.
“In line with your bold and inclusive vision to reset our nation and collectively build the Ghana we want, the Ghana Statistical Service stands ready to be the bedrock upon which policy decisions are anchored,” Dr. Iddrisu assured.
Dr. Iddrisu emphasized, “We are committed to delivering credible, timely and relevant data to support our macroeconomic stabilization program and our socioeconomic development agenda including flagship initiatives we’ve introduced such as the 24-hour economic policy, the agriculture for transformation agenda, the Adumawura program, the national apprenticeship program, the national coders program and the anti-corruption drive as we just emphasized.
Beyond this, we will actively anticipate and respond to the emerging data needs of a dynamic economy and ambitious forward-looking people.”
He outlined his vision for the Ghana Statistical Service: “Guided by the Statistical Service Act 2019 Act 1003, our national priorities and global best practices, I envision a modern world-class technology-driven, agile and trusted statistical service that one, repositions our national statistical system as a dynamic technology-driven and responsive platform for decision making.”
“Two, that aligns data production with strategic national objectives ensuring government and private sector interventions are evidence-led and impactful. Three, that improves the timeliness, accuracy and integrity of official statistics making them dependable foundation for national dialogue and progress. Four, that fosters open and transparent engagement with data users from government, from civil society, the media, the academia, the private sector and development partners among others.”
He further explained, “Five, that strengthens institutional capacity, human capital and fostering innovation. Six, that explores innovative and sustainable financing models to secure the future of official statistics in Ghana. And seventh, but not the least, that upholds the highest standards of statistical governance, integrity and coordination in service to the public good.”
Dr. Iddrisu also highlighted innovations his team would be bringing on board to improve data production:
“On prices, we will first track the rebasing of the CPI to enable us to collect more reliable and useful data on inflation to inform policy. In this regard, we will work towards institutionalizing the rebasing of CPI every three years.”he said.
“This will enable us to reduce the rebasing time lag from seven years to three years. Still on prices, we will be expanding the market for collecting the CPI data to enable reporting of CPI and inflation at the district level. Currently, inflation ends at the regional level,” Dr. Iddrisu explained.
He promised to work on the production of GDP data by regional basis, a first in Ghana.
“We would make sure that we extend our data collection methodologies to be able to produce GDP on regional basis so that we would be able to examine the economic activities at the regional level.”
He concluded by emphasizing, “One indicator that’s extremely important for national development, for which I know you are very passionate about, is employment and unemployment. We will regularize the production of quarterly employment and unemployment data to enable us to produce more frequent employment data, including those on movement in and out of employment, absorption rate, and youth not employed. This will also enable us to produce data on jobs created by government flagship initiatives.”
“With the enduring support of the President, the Finance Minister, and our Ministers of State, our development partners, and the good people of Ghana, I am committed to working with the exceptional team at the Ghana Statistical Service to position our service as a world-class institution, a beacon of excellence in Africa, and a trusted pillar in Ghana’s development journey.” He emphasized.
“We will partner with key government institutions, including the Bank of Ghana, the Ministry of Finance, and other MDs, the civil society organizations, the private sector, the academia, research and development partners, and other key stakeholders to execute the vision and priorities of the service.”He outlined.
Together, let us build a data-driven Ghana, where evidence-based policy empowers communities and unlocks opportunities for every citizen.
“This is a charge that His Excellency the President has given to us, and we will work very hard to ensure that this is done. Long live Ghana. Thank you very much,” Dr. Iddrisu concluded.
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