Finance Minister Calls for Quarterly Employment Data
By Maame Efua Kwaduah
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has directed the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) to develop a framework for publishing national employment figures on a regular basis, describing such data as essential for assessing the effectiveness of government policies on job creation.
Speaking at the official handover of the former Ministry of Finance building to the Ghana Statistical Service in Accra, Dr. Forson said Ghana should move beyond reporting only Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth and inflation and begin releasing employment statistics every quarter or every six months.
According to the Minister, regular employment data would provide an independent and credible measure of whether government policies are translating into meaningful employment opportunities for Ghanaians.
He said he looked forward to the day when the Government Statistician would announce employment figures alongside quarterly GDP and inflation data, allowing the performance of government policies to be assessed by an independent state institution.
Dr. Forson stressed that economic growth should be measured not only by increases in output but also by its ability to create jobs and improve the livelihoods of citizens.
He therefore urged the Ghana Statistical Service to develop a robust methodology capable of producing reliable employment statistics on a quarterly or half-yearly basis.
The Minister noted that employment figures would complement existing macroeconomic indicators and provide policymakers, businesses and the public with a more comprehensive understanding of the country’s economic performance.
He explained that while GDP growth remains an important measure of economic activity, its true significance lies in whether it generates sustainable employment and improves living standards.
Dr. Forson made the remarks during a ceremony to officially hand over the former Ministry of Finance building to the Ghana Statistical Service.
The relocation is expected to strengthen the operational capacity of the Service as it continues to generate official statistics to support national planning, evidence-based policymaking and economic decision-making.
The Finance Minister expressed confidence that improved institutional capacity, combined with more frequent employment data, would enhance accountability and provide a clearer basis for evaluating the impact of government programmes on employment and economic development.
