Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu sworn-in as Government Statistician

President Mahama charges new Government Statistician to champion data-,driven and evidence-based transformation

In a solemn but significant ceremony at the Jubilee House in Accra, President John Dramani Mahama officially swore in Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu as Ghana’s new Government Statistician. The ceremony was graced by top government officials, including Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, and other key cabinet members.

President Mahama, in his charge to the newly appointed statistician, emphasized the critical role of accurate and timely data in national transformation. “Credible data is the foundation upon which we build our economic and social policies,” the President noted, underscoring the government’s commitment to strengthening statistical capacity in Ghana.

A sacred national duty
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Iddrisu expressed heartfelt gratitude for the opportunity to serve, describing the position not just as a professional role, but as a sacred national duty. “This is a call to lead the charge in placing data and evidence at the heart of governance and national transformation,” he stated.

He highlighted the growing importance of data in a rapidly evolving global economy, stressing that the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) must evolve into a modern, agile, and technology-driven institution capable of supporting policy with credible evidence.

Vision for a modern statistical service
Dr. Iddrisu unveiled an ambitious vision for the GSS, built around modernization and relevance. Among his priorities is the fast-tracking of the rebasing of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to enhance the quality and precision of inflation data. Notably, he aims to decentralize CPI reporting to the district level, in line with the government’s decentralisation policy.

He also proposed producing inflation data that distinguishes between rural and urban areas, which would better capture regional price dynamics and inform targeted interventions.

Overhauling economic indicators
A key part of Dr. Iddrisu’s strategy involves improving the robustness of Ghana’s economic data. He announced plans to rebase the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures every five years—cutting the current ten-year cycle in half—to ensure the data reflects current economic realities.

In addition, he committed to developing regional GDP estimates to aid local policy-making and pledged to introduce Monthly Indicators of Economic Growth (MIEG) to complement the Bank of Ghana’s Composite Index of Economic Activities (CIEA).

Focus on labour market dynamics
Recognising the need for timely labour market statistics, Dr. Iddrisu promised to institutionalise the quarterly publication of employment and unemployment data. This initiative aims to better track the performance of job creation initiatives and provide clearer insight into youth employment trends.

“With quality labour statistics, we can align our interventions with the realities on the ground and better respond to the needs of our young people,” he said.

Charting a path to global excellence
Dr. Iddrisu closed his remarks with a rallying call for partnership and excellence. “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,” he declared.

A proven technocrat at the helm
Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu’s appointment comes at a critical time. A seasoned economist and statistician, his wealth of experience in macroeconomic management, public policy, and data analytics positions him uniquely to lead the GSS into a new chapter. As Ghana looks to accelerate its development through data-led decisions, all eyes will be on the Statistical Service to deliver on this renewed promise of credibility, innovation, and impact.