Government Statistician Title No Longer Fits Role—Prof. Nsowah-Nuamah
The President of the Institute of Statisticians and Data Scientists, Prof. Nicholas Nsowah-Nuamah, has called for the title Government Statistician to be changed to Statistician General, arguing that the current designation creates the wrong impression about the independence of Ghana’s official statistics.
Speaking in an interview, the former Deputy and Acting Government Statistician said the title, which dates back to the colonial era, makes many Ghanaians believe official statistics are produced to support the government of the day instead of serving the country.
He stressed that the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) is an independent institution that serves the Republic of Ghana and not any political administration.
“The institution serves the Republic of Ghana, not the government of the day. The title should reflect that independence,” he said.
Prof. Nsowah-Nuamah noted that public doubts about official economic data, particularly inflation figures, are partly driven by misconceptions linked to the title of the head of the Statistical Service.
He dismissed claims that government officials influence the production of official statistics, insisting that the GSS follows internationally accepted scientific methods and professional standards.
The statistician also clarified that a decline in inflation does not mean prices of goods and services have fallen.
“When we say inflation has come down, it does not mean prices have come down. It simply means the speed at which prices are increasing has slowed,” he explained.
He added that accurate and independent statistics are essential for government planning, policymaking and national development, and therefore deserve the confidence of the public.
