Description
The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) is the central statistical agency of the Government of Ghana, mandated to collect, compile, analyze, and disseminate statistical information on economic, social, and demographic activities and conditions in the country. The agency was established in 1985 under the Statistical Service Law (PNDCL 135) as an autonomous, independent public service with a Board of Directors who report directly to the Office of the President.
Efforts to institutionalize the collection and dissemination of statistical information in Ghana began in 1891 with the first population census in the Gold Coast. The Office of the Government Statistician was established in 1948 and expanded and renamed the Central Bureau of Statistics in 1961. Since then, the GSS has been consistent in performing its legal functions to serve the needs of individuals, organizations, development partners, and the government without hindrance.
In recognition of the changes in the statistics landscape worldwide and the need to improve the legal framework to reflect these changes, the Ghana Statistical Service Act, 2019 (Act 1003) was promulgated. This new law establishes the GSS as the central statistics-producing and coordinating institution for the National Statistical System, with a mandate to strengthen the production of quality, relevant, accurate, and timely statistical information for national development.
Under the new law, the GSS is specifically mandated to provide leadership and direction for the efficient, consistent, and comprehensive collection, processing, analysis, documentation, and storage of statistical information within the National Statistical System. The agency is also responsible for developing, creating awareness, and operationalizing the code of ethics and practice for the production and use of data to ensure quality statistics with respect to relevance, accuracy, reliability, coherence and comparability, sustainability, continuity, timeliness, topicality, and integrity.
CONTACT
Ghana Statistical Service
Head Office,
P. O. Box GP 1098,
Head Office Building,
Location: Finance Close, Accra, Ghana.
Fax: +233-302-664304
E-mail: [email protected]
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The GSS manages a centrally organized database of commercial, industrial, financial, social, demographic, and economic surveys and censuses data sets at the micro and macro levels, statistical indicators, and metadata on the statistical processes within the National Statistical System. The agency also promotes and builds statistical capacity and professional competencies using diverse interventions, including the establishment and operation of a National Statistical Training Center.
In addition, the GSS reviews, assesses, classifies, and designates as official statistics, data produced by the agency, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, District Assemblies, and other institutions within the country and reports regularly on the state of official statistics to the Government and the people. The agency also promotes bilateral and multilateral statistics cooperation and partnership to upgrade statistics production systems in the country.
The GSS has a Head Office in Accra and 10 Regional Offices, as well as over 100 District Offices. The agency has been conducting various censuses, and surveys, and compiling socio-economic data critical for the management and growth of the country and the development of the private sector. The usefulness of statistics to support policy formulation, decision-making, monitoring, and evaluation of socio-economic development programs and projects has long been recognized, and the GSS plays a critical role in supporting these efforts in Ghana.
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