The Government Statistician has stressed that the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) is not responsible for policy formulation, but for producing the data that drives decision-making across the economy and supports national development.
Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, speaking on Joy News’ PM Express Business Edition on Thursday, said the GSS exists to generate credible national data needed for effective decision-making, and not to advise the government on what policies to adopt.
“The Ghana Statistical Service is not about policy formulation, and it’s not about advising on policy, but it’s about generating data that is needed for effective decision making to influence development outcomes,” he said.
He explained that while some institutions use data to conduct policy analysis and advise on macroeconomic management, the GSS plays a different role in the national development chain.
“So in each of the two sides, there is development, there is national development there,” he said.
Dr Iddrisu said the Service’s work goes beyond relying on existing numbers. Instead, the GSS is positioned as the creator of official data, which becomes the foundation for planning, budgeting, investment, and economic management.
“The other side, what you are doing is that you are actually using data to actually do policy analysis and advise on macroeconomic management that will support national development at the Ghana Statistical Service,” he said.
He added that the distinction is clear. “You actually move from the use of data to being the creator of the data yourself,” he noted.
Dr Iddrisu said this places a heavy responsibility on the Service because the data it generates shapes decisions that affect livelihoods, national priorities, and development outcomes.
“So in other words, our responsibility is actually to generate the data that the policy makers need,” he said.
But he stressed that the audience for national data is not limited to government.
According to him, the data produced by the Ghana Statistical Service is intended for all actors within the economy, including businesses, researchers, development partners, and civil society.
“But it’s not even restricted to just the policymakers,” he said. “You generate the data that all actors of the economy need so that they use that data to take informed decisions that will support national development.”
Dr Iddrisu said this broad role makes the GSS a critical national institution because informed decisions depend on reliable statistics.
“So it goes way beyond policymakers,” he added.
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