ISSER strengthens ties with Ghana Statistical Service

The ISSER delegation with the Government Statistician, Dr. Alhassan Iddrissu, and senior directors of the Ghana Statistical Service after the courtesy meeting.

The Director of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), Prof. Robert Darko Osei, led a delegation from the Institute on a courtesy call to the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) Head Office in Accra. The team was warmly received by the Government Statistician and Head of GSS, Dr. Alhassan Iddrissu, alongside several directors. The visit provided an opportunity to reaffirm and strengthen the longstanding collaboration between the two institutions.

In his welcome remarks, Dr. Iddrissu congratulated Prof. Osei on his appointment as ISSER Director, describing it as an "important and honourable position". He highlighted the historic partnership between the two institutions, recalling joint projects and valuable expertise exchanges, amongst them Prof. Osei's eight years of service on the GSS Board and his contributions to its Technical Advisory Committee.

*Government Statistician, Dr. Alhassan Iddrissu, engaging Prof. Robert Darko Osei and the ISSER delegation during the meeting at the GSS Head Office.*

Dr. Iddrissu noted that the two institutions share the responsibility of ensuring that data becomes the raw material that informs good decision-making, adding "Let us therefore look at this meeting as an avenue to deepen that relationship."

He also pointed to collaboration opportunities under GSS's rebranding programme, including research, capacity development, institutional strengthening, and adoption of modern technologies. "There is a great deal of scope for working together," said.

*Prof. Robert Darko Osei, ISSER Director, delivering his remarks during the meeting with the Ghana Statistical Service.*

Responding, Prof. Osei reaffirmed ISSER’s commitment to stronger national partnerships, highlighting the Institute’s capacity to drive joint initiatives through its three divisions -- Economics, Social, and Statistics & Survey -- and its core strengths in research, training, and policy engagement.

"This visit is part of our efforts to reaffirm ISSER's readiness to engage more closely than ever," he said.

As part of the discussions, both institutions agreed to develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance collaboration. Dr. Richmond Atta-Ankomah, Head of ISSER's Statistics and Survey Division, further reinforced the myriad opportunities for joint work, stressing how such collaborations could help deliver credible data and knowledge to inform Ghana's development.

The meeting concluded with a shared resolve to explore innovative avenues for collaboration. "We shall do everything within our power to ensure that this relationship is deepened," Dr. Iddrissu affirmed.

The ISSER team from left to right: Prof. Simon Bawakyillenuo, Head of Social Division; Ms. Vicentia Quartey, Marketing and Communications Officer; Prof. Robert Darko Osei; Mrs. Mawuena Akuamoah-Boateng, Administrator; and Dr. Richmond Atta-Ankomah, Acting Head of Statistics and Survey Division with Dr. Alhassan Iddrissu.

Held on 17 September 2025 at the GSS head office in Accra, the visit forms part of Prof. Osei's ongoing stakeholder engagement efforts since assuming office as ISSER Director. It follows a similar engagement on 11 September 2025, when ISSER welcomed a delegation from the National Population Council (NPC), led by Acting Executive Director Mrs. Angelina Osei Kodua-Nyanor.

Prof. Robert Darko Osei and the ISSER team with the Acting Executive Director of the National Population Council, Mrs. Angelina Osei Kodua-Nyanor (3rd from right), and her delegation during a courtesy visit on 11 September 2025.

These engagements reflect ISSER’s commitment to building stronger partnerships with national institutions and creating opportunities to contribute more meaningfully to Ghana’s research and development efforts.