How the Ghana Statistical Service Powers National Enterprise Development: A Deep Dive with Dr. Iddrisu

In the complex ecosystem of a nation’s economy, data is the fundamental currency of progress. It informs strategy, measures impact, and guides investment. At the heart of Ghana’s data ecosystem lies the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), the official body mandated to produce the country’s most critical economic and demographic statistics. In a recent interview, Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu articulated a powerful and precise mandate: the GSS does not make policy; it generates the authoritative numbers upon which all sound policy, planning, and enterprise development must be built. This article unpacks that mission, exploring how the GSS functions as the indispensable engine for evidence-based growth across Ghana.

Introduction: The Primacy of Official Statistics

In an era of information overload, the distinction between data and official statistics has never been more crucial. While countless entities analyze trends and offer opinions, the Ghana Statistical Service occupies a unique constitutional position. It is the creator of the baseline reality—the verified, systematic, and impartial measurements of Ghana’s population, economy, and society. Dr. Iddrisu’s clarification is a vital reminder: the GSS’s core function is data generation, not policy formulation. This separation ensures the integrity of the numbers themselves, creating a trusted foundation that all other actors—from government ministries to private corporations and development partners—can rely upon. The ultimate goal? To power inclusive and sustainable national enterprise development by enabling every stakeholder to make informed decisions based on a single, authoritative truth.

Key Points: The GSS Mandate in Summary

• Creator, Not Advisor: The GSS’s primary role is to generate credible, official national data, not to advise on specific government policies.
• Foundation for Development: This data is the essential input for effective decision-making, national planning, budgeting, and monitoring development outcomes.
• Universal Audience: The data serves a broad ecosystem including all government agencies, private businesses, researchers, enterprise development organizations, and civil society.
• Heavy Responsibility: The statistics produced directly shape decisions affecting livelihoods, national priorities, and business environments.
• Ensuring Integrity: By focusing on creation rather than analysis, the GSS maintains its neutrality and the trustworthiness of Ghana’s official statistical system.

Background: The Ghana Statistical Service in Context

Legal and Constitutional Mandate

The GSS operates under the Statistical Service Act, 2019 (Act 837), which consolidates its role as the central authority for official statistics in Ghana. This legal framework aligns with the UN Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, emphasizing impartiality, professionalism, and transparency. Its work is guided by the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS), which coordinates the entire national statistical system.

Core Functions and Data Products

The GSS is responsible for conducting major nationwide exercises that form the bedrock of its data portfolio:

• Population and Housing Censuses: The most comprehensive snapshot of the nation’s demographics, housing, and social characteristics (last conducted in 2021).
• Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS): A series of surveys measuring poverty, inequality, consumption, and welfare.
• Economic Surveys: Including the Annual Survey of Industries, Quarterly Domestic Tourism Survey, and various business registers.
• Key Economic Indicators: Regularly publishing GDP, inflation (CPI), unemployment rates, and balance of payments data.

These outputs are not mere academic exercises. They are the operational metrics for the Ghanaian economy.

Analysis: Deconstructing the “Data Chain” for National Development

Dr. Iddrisu’s distinction between data generation and policy analysis reveals a critical two-stage model for national development. Understanding this chain is key to appreciating the GSS’s unique value.

Stage 1: The GSS as the Authoritative Source

This is the foundational layer. The GSS designs surveys, conducts enumerations, processes responses, and applies rigorous statistical methods to produce clean, comparable, and timely datasets. This process involves:

• Methodological Rigor: Adhering to international standards (like SDDS) to ensure data quality and international comparability.
• Geographic Disaggregation: Providing data at national, regional, and sometimes district levels, which is crucial for decentralized planning.
• Timeliness and Periodicity: Establishing a predictable calendar for data releases (e.g., quarterly GDP, monthly CPI) to support ongoing management.

The output is the “official truth.” For example, the national unemployment rate published by GSS is the benchmark for all labor market discussions. Without this single, credible source, debates would be fragmented and based on anecdote or vested interests.

Stage 2: The Ecosystem of Users and Policy Analysis

Once the GSS releases its data, it enters a vibrant ecosystem of users:

• Government Ministries & Agencies (e.g., Ministry of Finance, Bank of Ghana): Use the data for macroeconomic management, fiscal budgeting, and sectoral planning. They conduct the policy analysis Dr. Iddrisu mentioned.
• Private Sector & Businesses: Utilize regional GDP data, consumer price indices, and demographic trends to make investment decisions, launch products, and conduct market research. This is direct enterprise development fueled by official stats.
• Researchers & Academia: Build econometric models and conduct studies to understand long-term trends and policy impacts.
• Development Partners (World Bank, IMF, UN Agencies): Rely on GSS data to allocate aid, design programs, and assess the country’s progress towards SDGs.
• Civil Society & Media: Hold government accountable and advocate for citizens by analyzing and reporting on official statistics.

The national enterprise development chain is thus complete: GSS provides the raw material (data), and diverse actors transform it into intelligence, strategy, and action that drives the entire market system forward.

The Critical Importance of a “Single Official Source”

Having one authoritative producer prevents the chaos of conflicting figures. Imagine a scenario where the Ministry of Trade, a major bank, and a private research firm each publish different GDP growth rates for the same quarter. This would erode trust, paralyze decision-making, and increase the cost of doing business as entities would waste resources verifying basic facts. The GSS, by consolidating this function, provides the essential public good of statistical certainty.

Practical Advice: Leveraging GSS Data for Business and Development

For the data to truly power development, it must be accessed, understood, and applied. Here’s how different stakeholders can effectively use GSS outputs.

For Entrepreneurs and Businesses

• Market Entry & Expansion: Use the Ghana Living Standards Survey and census data to identify regions with high concentrations of your target demographic (by age, income, education).
• Pricing Strategy: Monitor the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and its component breakdowns to understand inflation trends in specific sectors (e.g., transport, food, housing).
• Investment Timing: Analyze quarterly GDP reports and sectoral contributions (e.g., growth in services vs. industry) to gauge economic momentum.
• Workforce Planning: Refer to labor force surveys to understand unemployment rates by sector and region, aiding in recruitment and location strategy.

Action: Bookmark the GSS official website (statsghana.gov.gh) and subscribe to their data release calendar.

For Policymakers and Planners

• Evidence-Based Budgeting: Align district or ministerial budgets with data on population growth, poverty incidence, and service gaps from the census and GLSS.
• Program Targeting: Use geospatially disaggregated data to ensure social interventions (like LEAP or school feeding programs) reach the intended populations.
• Performance Monitoring: Use baseline data from GSS to set realistic targets (e.g., reduce regional unemployment by X%) and measure progress against official metrics.

Action: Integrate GSS data portals into the routine workflow of policy units and planning departments.

For Researchers and NGOs

• Baseline for Studies: Always begin impact evaluations or needs assessments with the latest GSS data to understand the context.
• Longitudinal Analysis: Compare data across multiple census and survey rounds (e.g., 2000, 2010, 2021 censuses) to track trends in inequality, urbanization, or education.
• Advocacy: Use official, credible statistics to advocate for policy changes or resource allocation, as they are difficult for officials to dispute.

Action: Explore the GSS Microdata Library for anonymized unit-record data for advanced analysis, following ethical guidelines.

FAQ: Addressing Common Questions

Does the GSS tell the government what policies to implement?

No. As Dr. Iddrisu emphasized, this is a critical distinction. The GSS provides the what and how much (the statistics). It is the responsibility of policymakers, ministries, and their advisors to interpret that data and decide on the what next—the specific policies and interventions. The GSS maintains its neutrality by staying out of the advocacy arena.

Is GSS data available for free to the public and businesses?

Yes. A core principle of official statistics is public access. The GSS disseminates most of its major reports, summary tables, and press releases freely on its website. Some specialized, detailed microdata may require a formal request and adherence to confidentiality protocols, but aggregate data is widely accessible.

How does the GSS ensure its data is accurate and not politically influenced?

The GSS employs a combination of legal protection (Act 837), professional statistical standards (aligned with the UN and IMF), and technical methodologies like sample design, trained enumerators, and data validation processes. Its funding and staffing are designed to provide operational independence, insulating it from political pressure in its technical work.

What is the biggest challenge facing the GSS today?

While not stated by Dr. Iddrisu in this clip, common challenges for many National Statistical Offices (NSOs) globally include: securing adequate and sustained funding for frequent, high-quality surveys; modernizing data collection methods (e.g., moving to digital/CAPI); and improving the timeliness of certain data series without sacrificing quality. Capacity building for complex economic statistics is also a continuous need.

How often is key data like GDP and inflation published?

The GSS follows a regular release calendar. GDP is typically released quarterly and annually. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for inflation is published monthly. Major survey results (like GLSS rounds) are released as they are completed, which may be every few years. The release calendar is published in advance on their website.

Conclusion: The Indispensable Foundation

Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu’s message is a powerful affirmation of the foundational role of official statistics. The Ghana Statistical Service is not a policy shop; it is the nation’s measurement laboratory. By steadfastly focusing on the generation of credible, impartial, and comprehensive data, the GSS provides the indispensable raw material for every other actor in the development and enterprise ecosystem.