Mahama swears in Dr Alhassan Iddrisu as Government Statistician

President John Mahama has sworn in Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu as the new Government Statistician.

He urged Dr. Iddrisu to prioritize credible data for Ghana’s transformation agenda.

The ceremony took place at the Jubilee House in Accra. It was attended by several ministers and distinguished guests.

In his acceptance speech, Dr. Iddrisu thanked President Mahama for his trust. He promised to treat the role as a sacred national duty.

“This is a call to lead with data and evidence,” he said.

Dr. Iddrisu emphasized that information drives prosperity today. The Ghana Statistical Service's role is crucial now more than ever.

He shared a bold vision for the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS). He aims to create a modern, technology-driven institution for credible data.

His priorities include improving inflation data quality through rebasing the Consumer Price Index (CPI). He plans to extend CPI reporting to district levels for better decentralization support.

Dr. Iddrisu also wants to provide inflation data based on rural and urban areas. This will help capture price changes across different regions of Ghana.

Regarding economic data, he announced plans to rebase GDP every five years instead of ten. He will also produce regional GDP figures for local policy decisions.

Additionally, he hinted at introducing Monthly Indicators of Economic Growth (MIEG). This will complement the Bank of Ghana’s Composite Index of Economic Activities (CIEA).

For employment statistics, Dr. Iddrisu plans regular quarterly reports on employment and unemployment rates. This will help track labor market trends and job creation initiatives.

“With support from the President, Finance Minister, and partners, I am committed,” he affirmed.

Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu is an experienced economist and statistician. His appointment marks a new chapter for the GSS in promoting evidence-based decision-making in national development.