..NPP rattled by political identity
What would have been an otherwise excellent appointment of Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, as Acting Government Statistician, pending consultations with the Council of State, has struck interesting nerves, especially within the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The high-level members of the party, who left government just over three months ago, view Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, as one of their own, an NPP sympathiser, having allowed him into the top echelons of the Akufo-Addo administration and participated in their highest and most confidential meetings.
References were made to the Cabinet meetings, in which Dr Iddrisu participated as the Special Assistant to the then Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mohammed Amin Adam, who is a Member of Parliament (MP) for Karaga in the Northern Region.
Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, replaces Prof Samuel Kobina Annim, who assumed office as the Government Statistician at the Ghana Statistical Service on March 1, 2019.
Samuel was a Professor of Economics with a specific concentration in microeconomic development and Applied Microeconometrics at the Department of Economics, University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
Many opposition elements are shocked at how close Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, came to the Akufo-Addo administration, including his attendance and contributions to the Cabinet.
While some view him as a sympathiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who skillfully navigated the Akufo-Addo administration, others see him as a technocrat, who was simply performing his duties without any political motivations.
However, it is not Dr Iddrisu’s appointment by the Mahama administration that has caught the attention of the NPP.
Pearl Nana Ama Darko, formerly a Commissioner for the Support Services Division at the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and an appointee of President Akufo-Addo, currently serves as a Technical Advisor to Minister of Finance, Cassiel Ato Baah Forson.
Pearl was appointed to replace her relative, Laurette Korkor Asante, who is a biological sister of President Nana Akufo-Addo’s Executive Secretary, Nana Asante Bediatuo, as the Deputy Director-General for Operations and Benefits at the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT). However, the presidency later moved her to the GRA.
Laurette Korkor Asante, a lawyer by trade, is currently a politician and the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Atiwa West Constituency in the Eastern Region on the NPP ticket.
Dr Iddrisu’s profile on the Finance Ministry’s official website, states that he has been there since 2008, during the Kufuor presidency.
He is a macroeconomic and development economist with over 20 years of experience in economic policy and management, public finance management, empirical research, quantitative and statistical methods, development economics, and petroleum revenue management. He has written and published extensively in these areas.
Before President Mahama appointed him, Dr Iddrisu was the Chief Economics Officer at the Ministry of Finance and the Director of the Economic Strategy and Research Division (ESRD) of the Ministry, a position he held since 2013, when Seth Terkpey, was the Finance Minister during Mahama’s first term.
His core responsibility was to provide high-quality research, macroeconomic analysis, and policy advice to inform and guide the government’s macroeconomic and fiscal policies. Dr Iddrisu has also held other key management positions in the Ministry of Finance since 2008, including heading the Economic Planning Division (EPD) and the Real Sector Division (RSD) of the Ministry.
Dr Iddrisu, was described as an effective team player with admirable leadership qualities and a strong ability to work under pressure without compromising quality. He has served on several governing boards, councils, and committees, where his extensive experience and knowledge in Economics, Statistics, Quantitative Analysis, and leadership skills are applied to national development. His training at Harvard Business School on Corporate Board Effectiveness has undoubtedly enhanced his leadership qualities.
He has also consulted for numerous local and international organizations, providing lecturing and facilitation services in economic policy and management, statistics, and quantitative methods at reputable domestic and international institutions.
Dr Iddrisu, holds a PhD and a Masters in International Development Studies from the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), Tokyo; an MPhil in Economics from the University of Ghana; and a BA in Economics and Statistics from the University of Ghana, Legon, Accra.
According to a statement signed by the Minister for Government Communications, who also serves as the Spokesperson for the President, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Dr Iddrisu’s role was Director of the Economic Strategy and Research Division of the Finance Ministry, adding that he was a part-time lecturer at the University of Professional Studies.
The statement reads, “Dr Alhassan Iddrisu is a seasoned economist and accomplished public sector leader with a distinguished career in Ghana’s Ministry of Finance.
“He currently serves as Director of the Economic Strategy and Research Division, where he leads national efforts in macroeconomic analysis, forecasting, policy research, and coordination of real and external sector assessments,” part of the statement said.
The statement further added, “He provides technical guidance for the preparation of the Ghana Macroeconomic Outlook Report and contributes to the National Budget and Economic Policy.
“Dr Iddrisu also represents the Ministry on several governing boards, public councils, and inter-ministerial technical committees, where his expertise influences key policy decisions on economic governance and development strategy.
“He has held multiple senior positions at the Director level, including as Director of the Economic Research and Forecasting Division (ERFD) from 2013 to 2019, where he supervised national macroeconomic modelling and long-term forecasting, and as Acting Director of the Real Sector Division between 2010 and 2013, where he led research and analysis on sectorial growth and productivity trends.”