President John Dramani Mahama has underscored the critical importance of statistical independence in national development, urging the newly appointed Government Statistician, Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, to prioritize impartiality and accuracy in the work of the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).
Speaking during Dr. Iddrisu’s swearing-in ceremony at the Jubilee House on Friday, May 2, the President emphasized the essential role of credible data in good governance and accountability.
“Statistical integrity is not a luxury. It’s a necessity. Citizens must believe that the numbers published by the service are objective and factual and are free from political interference,” Mahama declared.
He pointed out that the credibility of Ghana’s macroeconomic data is not only important for local confidence but also for international trust.
“Investors must be assured that Ghana’s macroeconomic data is credible. Development partners must know that our results framework are measurable and verifiable,” he added.
Encouraging the new head of the GSS to lead boldly and independently, Mahama said, “I urge the new statistician 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.”
The President linked the commitment to data integrity to his broader governance philosophy.
“Under this administration, we’re building a governance model anchored in transparency, performance, and accountability.
“From health, education, and agriculture to urban planning, we need timely and disaggregated data to guide implementation, to measure results and correct our course when necessary,” he said.
