Economist Warns NPP

A renowned Economist and former Government Statistician Dr. Joe Abbey has asked politicians to desist from meddling in the affairs of the Ghana Statistical Service. According to him, political interference of any sort with the activities of the service could have dire consequences on the economic fortunes of the country. His comments followed claims by NPP vice presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia that the single digit inflation figures released by the statistical service were questionable and suspecting that the service is being subjected to undue political pressure by the ruling government. Reacting to the claims, acting Government Statistician, Philomena Nyarko described Dr. Bawumia�s comments as misleading and constitutes an attack the integrity of the Service. Speaking to XYZ News, Dr. Abbey stated that an evidence to back claims of political interference would do a lot of good to the country. �My experience will say that it is not easy to get political interference at the GSS but nothing is impossible�. Dr Abbey said adding that �but the challenge should go to Dr Bawumia to put in the public domain whatever evidence he has because if all that there is to it is that he finds the inflation figures not acceptable it can technical incompetence which we can look into it�. Meanwhile, an Economist and lecturer at the Institute of Professional Studies, Raymond Dziwornu says the Statistical Service needs to be adequately resourced to discharge their duties professionally and effectively. �The Statistical service has its own problems and as a government, what they need to do is to resource them, both expertise and financially. �When we do that the Statistical service will provide us with the information that we need� Mr. Dziwornu said.