Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu called for stronger efforts to measure development beyond economic output, saying countries must adopt broader indicators that capture well being, inequality and environmental sustainability.
Participating at a session on “Beyond GDP: Rethinking Progress in a Changing World” at the 57th meeting of the United Nations Statistical Commission in New York, Dr. Iddrisu said relying solely on Gross Domestic Product does not provide a full picture of national progress.
“GDP alone cannot tell the full story of progress. It does not show whether people are thriving, whether opportunity is shared, or whether today’s growth is putting tomorrow at risk,” he said.
Dr. Iddrisu said future statistical systems must go beyond income and averages to capture broader dimensions of development, including the well being of citizens, inequality, environmental value and the sustainability of economic growth.
For Ghana, he noted that measuring progress more comprehensively means accounting for areas often overlooked in traditional statistics, including unpaid care work and the informal economy, while ensuring that development gains remain sustainable for future generations. “What we measure shapes what we prioritize,” Dr. Iddrisu said. “If we want better decisions, fairer development and stronger accountability, we must build statistical systems that make the invisible visible.”
According to him, strengthening multidimensional indicators, investing in statistical capacity and expanding data innovation would be key steps in integrating broader measures of progress into national policy and budgeting. Dr. Iddrisu also used the platform to stress the importance of partnerships in strengthening national data systems.
At a separate side event on Partnerships for Stronger National Data Systems under the Data for Now Initiative, he said collaboration between national statistical offices, universities, government agencies and development partners is essential for producing reliable and timely data. He noted that stronger cooperation between statistical offices and academic institutions can improve statistical methods, build technical capacity and support the use of emerging data sources for policymaking.
For Ghana, Dr. Iddrisu said this requires moving beyond occasional collaboration to more structured and long term partnerships between the Ghana Statistical Service and universities. He said such partnerships should connect academic research to national priorities, involve researchers in survey design and data analysis, and help develop skills in statistics, data science and artificial intelligence.
According to Dr. Iddrisu, building stronger data partnerships will be essential to developing a modern data ecosystem capable of supporting better policy planning and improving living conditions for citizens.
