President Mahama Urges New Government Statistician to Hold Government Accountable

President John Dramani Mahama has charged the newly appointed Government Statistician, Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, to demonstrate boldness and moral courage in his role and to ensure the government remains accountable through evidence-based decision making.

At the swearing-in ceremony held on Friday at the Jubilee House, President Mahama directed the new head of the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) to maintain professional standards and independence in the execution of his duties.

“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,” the President stated.

According to the President, the new Government Statistician should not hesitate to “speak truth to power, even when the data is uncomfortable.”

He called on Dr Iddrisu to lead the service into a new era of excellence that embraces new technologies, deepens public trust and makes data accessible, actionable and transformative.

In what would be described as an unusual directive from a sitting president, President Mahama explicitly instructed the statistician to hold the administration accountable.

“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,” he said.

President Mahama noted that the GSS plays a central role in the country’s development planning and economic management.

“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 added.

In his address, the President guaranteed the institution’s independence, stating: “Let me use this opportunity to reaffirm the government’s commitment to protecting statistical services professional independence. Statistical integrity is not a luxury, it’s a necessity.”

He stressed the importance of public trust in the GSS, saying, “Citizens must believe that the numbers published by the service are objective and factual and are free from political interference. Investors must be assured that Ghana’s macroeconomic data is credible.”

The President also mentioned the role of the Statistical Service in supporting major government initiatives such as the 24-hour economic policy, the Ghana CARES program, the national apprenticeship scheme and our inclusive education and health reforms.

Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, who brings “a distinguished track record in statistical research, institutional development and applied data analysis,” according to the President, is expected to lead the GSS at a time when data management is becoming increasingly important.

The President said the GSS would be expected to provide leadership in key areas including tracking inflation and GDP, monitoring SDGs progress, mapping climate impact or preparing for the next population census.

In his response, Dr Iddrisu expressed gratitude for the appointment and pledged to uphold the standards expected of the office.

Richard Aniagyei, ISD