Prof Annim should have stayed as Government Statistician at least for a year or two  – Theo Acheampong

An Economist, Dr Theo Acheampong, believes that the immediate past Government Statistician, Professor Samuel Annim, should have been allowed by President John Dramani Mahama to stay in office for at least a year or two under his administration before his removal.

Dr Acheampong said that although the new appointee, Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, is equally qualified, Prof Annim transformed the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) beyond imagination.

In a Facebook post, he said, “Dr Iddrisu is a good man – very detail-oriented and competent technocrat; I’ve had several positive engagements with him at the Ministry of Finance on various economic and statistical issues.

“Nonetheless, Prof Anim should have stayed, even if for an extra year or two. He’s transformed the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) beyond imagination into one the true ‘pockets of efficiency’ within the civil service. I wish them well.”

President John Dramani Mahama on Friday, April 4 announced the appointment of Dr Alhassan Iddrisu as Acting Government Statistician pending consultations with the Council of State, to replace Professor Samuel Annim.

This was announced by Minister of Government Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu on Friday April 4.

Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu is a seasoned economist and accomplished public sector leader with a distinguished career in Ghana’s Ministry of Finance.

He currently serves as Director, Economic Strategy and Research Division, where he leads national efforts in macroeconomic analysis, forecasting, policy research, and coordination of real and external sector assessments.

Read Also: We are investing in areas that directly impact the lives of citizens – Finance Minister

He provides technical guidance for the preparation of the Ghana Macroeconomic Outlook Report and contributes to the National Budget and Economic Policy.

Dr Iddrisu also represents the Ministry on several governing boards, public councils, and inter- ministerial technical committees, where his expertise influences key policy decisions on economic governance and development strategy.

He has held multiple senior positions at the Director level, including as Director, Economic Research and Forecasting Division (ERFD) from 2013 to 2019, where he supervised national macroeconomic modelling and long-term forecasting, and as Acting Director, Real Sector Division between 2010 and 2013, where he led research and analysis on sectoral growth and productivity trends.

A part-time lecturer at the University of Professional Studies, Accra, and a former consultant to Oxfam GB and the World Bank, Dr Iddrisu holds a PhD in International Development Studies from the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, Tokyo, Japan, a Master of Public Administration (Public and Economic Policy) from the London School of Economics, an MPhil in Economics, and a BA in Economics with French from the University of Ghana.

 

The post Prof Annim should have stayed as Government Statistician at least for a year or two  – Theo Acheampong first appeared on 3News.

Read Full Story