Also known as: Dr Alhassan Iddrisu · Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu · Dr. Iddrisu · Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu · Dr Iddrisu · Government Statistician Dr Alhassan Iddrisu
Government Statistician providing economic and inflation data for Ghana, commenting on price pressures and economic growth metrics.
… Alhassan Iddrisu The rate of inflation rose for the second consecutive month in May 2026, climbing to 3.7 percent from 3.4 percent in April, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS). …
… Alhassan Iddrisu. Addressing journalists on June 3, 2026, he explained that locally produced items accounted for about 92% of total inflation, underscoring the dominance of domestic supply conditions in shaping price movements. …
… Alhassan Iddrisu revealed that fresh tomato prices rose by 35.8% year-on-year and surged by a striking 38.8% month-on-month between April and May 2026. …
… Alhassan Iddrisu said the country’s year-on-year inflation rate rose from 3.4% in April to 3.7% in May, representing a 0.3 percentage-point increase. …
… Alhassan Iddrisu described the report as a shift from merely reporting monthly inflation movements to explaining what is happening in the economy and why it matters. …
… Alhassan Iddrisu Multidimensional poverty levels declined in 250 out of 261 districts of the country between 2021 and 2025, according to the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS). …
… The Government Statistician, Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, described the report as historic, noting that it marked the first time Ghana had produced consistent, comparable multidimensional poverty estimates for all 261 districts over several years. …
… Alhassan Iddrisu, the Government Statistician, while delivering his welcome remarks at the launch held at the Alisa Hotel in Accra on Monday (May 18). …
… Presenting the figures at a press briefing in Accra yesteday, Government Statistician, Alhassan Iddrisu, said the latest data pointed to improved market performance and rising confidence in the Ghanaian economy compared to the same period last year. …
Ghana's first National Non-Standard Units Survey found that local measurement units such as olonka, cups, buckets, bundles and heaps remain widespread in food markets and households, with the same units representing different weights across regions and causing inconsistencies in food pricing and agricultural data. The Ghana Statistical Service has developed national conversion factors for major food commodities to address these measurement variations.
Ghana's first National Non-Standard Units Survey found that local measurement units such as olonka, cups, buckets, bundles and heaps remain widespread in food markets and households, with the same units representing different weights across regions and causing inconsistencies in food pricing and agricultural data. The Ghana Statistical Service has developed national conversion factors for major food commodities to address these measurement variations.
The Ghana Statistical Service is developing a framework to measure national progress beyond GDP, incorporating well-being, environmental sustainability, resilience and social inclusion into policy planning. The initiative, discussed at a policy workshop in Accra, is intended to complement rather than replace GDP as a measure of development.
Producer inflation climbed to 5.8% in May 2026 from 2.7% in April, driven mainly by rising costs in mining and quarrying, manufacturing, and transport sectors, according to the Ghana Statistical Service. Mining and quarrying inflation jumped from 5.6% in April to 11.0% in May.
The Government Statistician expects inflation to decline later in the year due to the approaching harvest season, as food makes up a significant portion of the Consumer Price Index. Food inflation rose to 3.3% in May 2026 from 2.2% in April 2026, driven by rising prices of tomatoes, charcoal, ginger and supply issues.
Government Statistician Dr Alhassan Iddrisu says charcoal prices have risen more than 50% over the past year, making it the single biggest driver of inflation in Ghana. Food inflation also rose to 3.3% in May 2026 from 2.2% in April, with food prices jumping 2% in a single month and tomato prices surging 38.8% between April and May 2026 alone.
Ghana's overall inflation performance has improved, but the Government Statistician warns that food inflation rose to 3.3% year-on-year in May 2026 from 2.2% in April, with food prices jumping 2% in a single month—the fastest monthly increase in recent times. Tomato prices have surged nearly 39% in a month and are identified as a major driver of the food price shock.
Ghana's economy expanded by 6.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, up from 6.2 per cent a year earlier, largely driven by mining and quarrying and information and communication technology. The Ghana Statistical Service noted the acceleration was accompanied by a sharp easing of price pressures, with the GDP deflator declining from 23.9 per cent to 4.1 per cent.
Ghana's economy expanded 6.4 percent in Q1 2026, driven by services and mining sectors, according to Ghana Statistical Service provisional estimates. The growth rate slightly outpaced Q1 2025's 6.2 percent, supported by rising domestic demand and investment activity, while the GDP deflator fell sharply to 4.1 percent from 23.9 percent, signalling easing inflationary pressures.
Ghana's economy expanded by 6.4 percent in the first quarter of 2026, up from 6.2 percent a year earlier, led by strong growth in the services and industrial sectors. The services sector expanded 7.1 percent and accounted for 45.7 percent of GDP, with information and communication growing 25.2 percent; the GDP deflator declined sharply from 23.9 percent to 4.1 percent, indicating easing inflation.
Ghana's inflation rate inched up to 3.7 per cent in May from 3.4 per cent in April, driven by rising fuel costs and global economic uncertainties. The Government Statistician noted the overall inflation trend as encouraging, with inflation declining significantly from 18.4 per cent in May 2025.
Ghana's inflation rate climbed to 3.7 percent in May 2026 from 3.4 percent in April, marking the second consecutive monthly increase. Despite the recent uptick, the Government Statistician noted that inflation has fallen significantly from 18.4 percent a year ago, easing pressure on household budgets.
Ghana's May 2026 inflation was shaped largely by locally produced items, which accounted for about 92% of total inflation. Food inflation rose to 3.3%, with rent payments, fresh tomatoes, and secondary school fees among the key contributors to price pressures on household budgets.
Fuel prices in Ghana showed mixed movements in May 2026 as global oil shocks filtered into domestic pricing, but transport fares remained subdued, with taxi fares declining 4.9% year-on-year and bus and truck fares falling 6.6%, according to the Ghana Statistical Service. The government's suspension and partial withdrawal of selected petroleum levies has also contributed to price stability, though analysts caution that delayed transport fare adjustments could affect inflation dynamics.
Fresh tomato prices rose 35.8% year-on-year and 38.8% month-on-month between April and May 2026, driven by supply disruptions including an attack on Ghanaian traders in Burkina Faso in February and an export ban in March. The sharp increase has been a major driver of food inflation, which rose to 3.3% in May from 2.2% in April.
Ghana's year-on-year inflation increased to 3.7% in May 2026 from 3.4% in April, marking a second consecutive monthly rise. Despite the recent increase, inflation has fallen sharply from 18.4% a year ago, significantly easing pressure on household budgets.
Ghana's 2025 inflation was primarily driven by domestic price pressures, with locally produced items contributing 73.6 percent of total inflation compared with 26.4 percent from imported items, according to the Ghana Statistical Service's annual inflation report. Food was the single largest driver, accounting for 51.6 percent of total inflation.
Multidimensional poverty levels declined in 250 of 261 districts between 2021 and 2025, according to the Ghana Statistical Service. The Government Statistician said the progress reflects the impact of targeted investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure and other social interventions, though poverty reduction remains uneven across districts.
Ghana's multidimensional poverty incidence dropped from 24.3 percent to 23.0 percent in 2025, with 250 out of 261 districts showing improvement over the past five years, according to a Ghana Statistical Service report. The Deputy Minister of Finance said the findings provide critical data to help government better target interventions, though district-level analysis reveals specific development gaps requiring urgent attention.
According to a Ghana Statistical Service report released May 18, Yunyoo Nasuan District in the Northeast Region recorded the highest multidimensional poverty incidence in 2025 at 51.6 percent of its population, while Ayawaso North Municipal in Greater Accra recorded the lowest at 5.5 percent. Of Ghana's 261 districts, 250 recorded reductions in multidimensional poverty between 2021 and 2025, though progress remains deeply uneven with a gap of more than 46 percentage points between highest and lowest districts.
Ghana's Monthly Indicator of Economic Growth rose to 111.3 in February 2026 from 103.3 in February 2025, recording a 7.7 per cent growth rate. The services sector accounted for 47.6 per cent of expansion, industry contributed 44.2 per cent, while agriculture and net indirect taxes contributed 5.5 per cent and 2.7 per cent respectively.
Ghana's Monthly Indicator of Economic Growth rose to 111.3 in February 2026 from 103.3 in February 2025, representing a 7.7 percent expansion. The services sector led growth at 47.6 percent contribution, followed by industry at 44.2 percent and agriculture at 5.5 percent, with the industry sector recording the strongest sectoral growth at 9.6 percent.
Ghana's annual inflation rate rose to 3.4 percent in April from 3.2 percent in March, driven by higher non-food prices, particularly fuel and transportation costs, while food inflation eased slightly. On a month-on-month basis, the Consumer Price Index increased by one percent, the strongest monthly rise since February 2025.
Ghana's inflation rose slightly to 3.4 percent in April 2026, marking the first uptick since December 2024, up 0.2 percentage points from March's 3.2 percent, though significantly lower than the 21.2 percent recorded in April 2025. Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu noted early signs of upward pressure in some economy components, with non-food inflation rising to 4.2 percent while food inflation eased to 2.2 percent.
Ghana's inflation rate increased to 3.4 percent in April 2026, the first rise since December 2024, driven by higher costs in services and utilities. Food inflation declined marginally to 2.2 percent, but month-on-month pressures are emerging across other categories.
The National Health Insurance Authority held a free registration and renewal exercise at Manhyia Palace in recognition of Otumfuo's contribution to health advocacy and to honour his 27th anniversary on the Golden Stool and his 76th birthday in 2026. The initiative aims to register one million people in the Ashanti Region as part of a partnership between traditional leadership and state institutions to expand healthcare coverage.
Ghana's inflation increased marginally from 3.2% to 3.4% in April 2026, driven by charcoal, rent, school fees, and smoked fish, while year-on-year food inflation fell slightly to 2.2%. Non-food inflation rose to 4.2%, with service prices climbing significantly to 9.6% due to utility and housing costs.
Ghana's building cost inflation eased to 2.2% year-on-year in March 2026 from 2.4% in February, marking the 11th consecutive monthly decline and a significant drop from 23.6% a year earlier. The Prime Building Cost Index rose to 134.1 in March 2026, though month-on-month inflation ticked up to 0.8% from 0.4%.