Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research
Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research — University of Ghana research body issuing policy guidance on Ghana's fiscal, economic, and development challenges, currently analyzing capital spending shortfalls and sanitation investment returns.
Former Director of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), Professor Peter Quartey, has urged the Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, to use the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review to announce measures that will strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation wh …
Former Director of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), Professor Peter Quartey, has urged the Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, to use the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review to outline concrete measures to improve domestic revenue mobilisation foll …
… management and sanitation systems could generate as much as GH¢556 in annual economic benefits if the country increases spending to levels recommended for lower-middle-income economies, according to a new policy brief by the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research …
… than GH¢6.2 billion every year to poor waste management and sanitation, with preventable diseases costing the country billions in healthcare expenditure, lost productivity and thousands of avoidable deaths, a new study by the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research …
… A recent study by the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) estimates that Ghana loses billions of cedis annually through diseases and economic losses linked to poor sanitation and waste management. …
… The three-day conference, organised by the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), in collaboration with the International Centre for Evaluation and Development (ICED), focused on strengthening evidence-informed policymaking across Africa. …
An economist and Research Fellow at the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), Dr Kwame Adjei-Mantey, has called for a comprehensive overhaul of Ghana’s waste management governance framework, arguing that meaningful reforms in the sector are essential to …
… By Vicentia Quartey During a recent student engagement organised by the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), one Senior High School student asked a simple but disarming question: how many policies has ISSER influenced since its establishment? …
… t fundamentally rethink its trade strategy if it is to unlock sustainable economic growth and create jobs, participants at a high-level seminar organised by the World Bank Group, African Center for Economic Transformation and Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research …
Former ISSER director Professor Peter Quartey has criticized the government's first-half 2026 expenditure cuts as excessive, cautioning that a 20.6 per cent reduction in public spending poses risks to essential public services and infrastructure. He argued that while fiscal discipline is necessary for macroeconomic stability, deviations of up to five per cent from planned expenditure are acceptable.
Former ISSER director Professor Peter Quartey has criticized the government's first-half 2026 expenditure cuts as excessive, cautioning that a 20.6 per cent reduction in public spending poses risks to essential public services and infrastructure. He argued that while fiscal discipline is necessary for macroeconomic stability, deviations of up to five per cent from planned expenditure are acceptable.
The Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research warned that Ghana risks undermining long-term development goals if infrastructure spending continues to fall short due to tight expenditure controls. Capital expenditure was nearly 40 per cent below its programmed level in the first half of 2026, largely due to implementation delays in the government's "Big Push" infrastructure programme.
The Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research cautions that Ghana's improved fiscal performance is being driven primarily by expenditure cuts rather than stronger revenue mobilisation, with capital expenditure showing the sharpest reduction and potentially undermining long-term economic growth.
The Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) has raised concerns that construction growth remained at only 1.3% in the first quarter of 2026 despite the government's 'Big Push' infrastructure programme, attributing weak performance to reduced capital expenditure and tight fiscal policy.
The Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research has urged Ghana's government to ensure strong macroeconomic performance translates into meaningful job creation and improved living standards. ISSER's director said the country's next phase of economic policy should focus on creating jobs rather than simply improving macroeconomic indicators, with expansion in the services sector resulting in employment opportunities particularly for young people.
The Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research argues that Ghana's fiscal consolidation should prioritise efficient use of public funds, not only expenditure reductions. The institute's director stressed that the government should complete existing projects before committing resources to new ones to maximise public investment benefits.
The Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research cautioned that Ghana's increasing reliance on gold for international reserves exposes the country to financial risk if global gold prices decline, and warned that the current fiscal consolidation and monetary sterilization approach to containing inflation is costly for the central bank and unsustainable long-term.
The Paramount Chief of Assin Kushea called on administrators to uphold ethical standards to curb corruption and strengthen institutions, telling the 8th Annual Administrators Conference of CIAMC that integrity, accountability and professionalism are crucial to institutional success.
Ghana's Supreme Court ruled the delegate system used by political parties to elect presidential and parliamentary candidates unconstitutional, requiring all registered members in good standing to participate directly instead. A governance expert cautioned that while the decision may broaden participation, it is unlikely to reduce the influence of money in internal party elections.
Professor Peter Quartey has been appointed Provost of the College of Education at the University of Ghana, effective August 1, 2026, for a three-year term. He brings extensive academic and administrative experience, currently serving as Acting Director of the Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy since 2025.
Former ISSER director Professor Peter Quartey has urged the Finance Minister to use the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review to strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation and accelerate investment in infrastructure, agriculture, and manufacturing to create jobs, arguing that the next phase of economic management should focus on expanding productive sectors capable of generating employment and sustaining growth.
Former ISSER director Professor Peter Quartey has called on the Finance Minister to use the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review to outline measures for improving domestic revenue mobilisation after weaker-than-expected tax collections in the first quarter. While acknowledging Ghana's recent macroeconomic stability in inflation, exchange rates and fiscal performance, Quartey cautioned that stabilisation alone is insufficient and the economy must move toward stronger revenue generation and addressing unemployment.
Stakeholders at Ghana's National Justice Conference called for sustainable financing of child protection systems, warning that inadequate funding could undermine efforts to combat child labour exploitation and trafficking. The conference, held in Accra, brought together government officials, lawmakers, civil society organisations, faith leaders, survivors and development partners to discuss strengthening long-term interventions for vulnerable children.
A new ISSER policy brief estimates that every cedi invested in improving Ghana's waste management and sanitation could generate GH¢556 in annual economic benefits if the country matches spending levels of lower-middle-income economies. Current spending delivers GH¢180 in returns per cedi invested; increasing investment from GH¢38.78 to GH¢1,028 per tonne of waste would reduce sanitation-related illness by 97.4 per cent and deaths by 81 per cent while boosting productivity and saving billions annually.
A University of Ghana study finds that Ghana loses more than GH¢6.2 billion yearly to poor waste management and sanitation through preventable diseases, healthcare costs, and lost productivity, while MMDAs spend only GH¢180.2 million on waste management and sanitation combined. The research attributes major economic losses to sanitation-related diseases including malaria, cholera and typhoid, which cause 31.9 million lost work and school days annually and approximately 107,222 premature deaths.
Recent floods in Greater Accra displaced families and destroyed businesses, with government officials citing blocked drainage systems, poor sanitation, and development along waterways as major contributors. The article argues that while climate change and intense rainfall play a role, many of Ghana's flood disasters are worsened by poor waste disposal, with plastic bags and refuse filling gutters designed for drainage.
Kenya's Government Spokesperson Dr Isaac Mwaura has called on African scholars and policymakers to ensure research conducted on the continent is grounded in African values and context, rather than relying heavily on external research models, to make it relevant for policymaking and development. He argued that research disconnected from African values often fails to address local development needs, and that African institutions must take ownership of data generation and analysis.
An ISSER economist argues that comprehensive overhaul of Ghana's waste management governance framework—including eliminating overlapping responsibilities and appointing a regulator—is essential to tackling Accra's perennial flooding problem alongside drainage infrastructure investments.
An analysis of why evidence from academic research often fails to influence real-world policymaking, noting that political priorities, fiscal constraints, and timing compete with research findings. Globally, estimates suggest as much as 80 percent of research does not directly translate into policy or practice, a challenge Ghana also reflects.
Participants at a World Bank-led seminar in Accra said Ghana must fundamentally rethink its trade strategy to unlock sustainable economic growth and create jobs. Ghana's Trade Minister reported a historic trade surplus of US$13.6 billion in 2025 and export receipts of US$31.11 billion, but noted the country has yet to fully harness trade benefits.