Features
Need to revise our economic figures
• Ghana Statistical Service head office
Economic development at the national level usually takes recognition of various statistical figures in various sectors of the economy to give the overall picture about a country’s economic development, indicating whether the economy is doing well or not and thereby giving us an idea about the general welfare in the country.
In any modern economy, statistical figures are very important and relevant to national economic growth. It is the figures churned out in various sectors of the economy which helps us to get the general picture of economic performance in the country.
ACCURATE FIGURES
For this reason it is important to ensure that accurate figures are utilised at every point in time. It is also important to point out changes in figures at various points in time, so as to be able to reflect previous changes in the economy. It is equally important to take note any envisaged changes that are likely to occur in current conditions and thereby revise any relevant figures that ought to be dealt with, so as not to lose any evidence-based data that helps to reflect the economic welfare and performance of the country.
If changes are necessary but are not carried out, the economic picture created may not reflect the truth as far as economic performance is concerned. This is why as an example if deteriorating conditions in the past are not included in the revision of statistical data, the poor performance may not reflect in national economic performance for which reason things may be taken for granted that all is well as far as the economy is concerned.
IMPROVEMENTS
In the same way, if in previous times there are improvements in certain sectors of the economy, this improvement should be made to reflect in statistical data, so that everybody will know that there are changes in the economy for the better. This is why accurate statistical data are necessary, if we want to measure economic performance or national economic welfare.
It is necessary to ensure that the figures are not changed to paint a wrong picture or deceive the public with regards to the actual performance of the country. That is why economic performance in every country should not be based on guess work but actual statistical data made available by a relevant and competent body charged with a responsibility of ensuring that only genuine statistical figures are churned out to reflect economic performance.
STATISTICAL DATA
The statistical data here should be sector-based so that each specific sector’s performance can be known and analysed in the most appropriate way. If this is not done, the figures thrown out and given out for analysis may be deceitful. We, therefore, expect only competent bodies charged with such responsibility to come out and give relevant figures for that purpose. Fortunately in Ghana, there is a competent body such as the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) with the duty to provide relevant data regarding various sectors of the country to help in national planning. Indeed, the GSS helps to guide government in its performance and also offers advice on what should be done to improve economic performance.
It is for this reason that the GSS is resourced by the nation to carry out population and housing census for the country. Population and housing census, for example, is used for many economic reasons. If for nothing at all, it helps us to know the total number of people that government needs to cater for at any point in time. Today, we know that Ghana has a population slightly above 30 million. The figure helps the government to know the number of people it has to cater for.
POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUS
Furthermore, the result of the population and housing census helps us to know the structure of the country. We are, therefore, able to know the size of the old-age group, that is those above 60 years, and also know those in the working range as well as those under 18 years. In the same way, we are able to know the number of females in the country in relation to the male population. All these help the government to plan well for the country not only for the present time but for the future also.
Another significance of a population and housing census carried out in the country by the GSS is the number and types of housing units that we have in the country. Towards this end, the nation is able to know the number of housing units it possesses as well as substandard housing units that are found in various parts of the country. Among other things, the rural population compared to the urban one is also known, therefore, making it possible for the government to know and plan its urban and rural projects.
NUMBER OF SCHOOLS
We are also able to know, therefore, the number of schools, hospitals, markets and recreational sectors that ought to be constructed for various number of people found in the country.
Thus, available and reliable statistical data is needed by all countries for proper planning. Whenever there is a need for changes in the statistical figure, this will be known through studies carried out by the GSS and that’s why it’s important to ensure that decisions are made to reflect figures reliably provided by the competent body responsible for providing data for the country.
COMPETENT BODY
As has been pointed out already the competent body responsible for this noble work is the GSS which is made up of competent professionals who know what to do at any point in time and whose skills are comparable to excellent professionals in any part of the world. This means that no planning can be carried out without the GSS. Also, when there is the need for changes to reflect economic performance, this should be based on the figures provided by the GSS.
This is why the Ministry of Finance has announced its decision to update its debt sustainability analysis (DSA) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) projections for 2022 to reflect positive economic developments in 2021. The revision which will also capture the medium-term projections about the economy is based on the official provisional 2021 fourth quarter and overall 2021 annual GDP data released by the GSS on April 20, 2022.
REAL GDP
According to the GSS, real GDP expanded by 7.0 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to the 4.3 per cent growth recorded in the corresponding period of 2020. Similarly, non-oil real GDP in the fourth quarter of 2021 was said to have expanded by 7.6 per cent compared to 5.7 per cent for the same period in 2020.
What all this means is that, it has become necessary for some changes to be effected so that real economic and financial performance will be reflected by the data provided by the GSS. This is what every forward-looking nation is required to do, so that economic performance would not be based on guess work but actual performance provided by reliable statistical data provided by GSS.
By Dr. Kofi Amponsah-Bediako
Contact email/whatsApp address of author:
Pradmat201@gmail.com (0553318911)
On Sunday, October 11, 2026, it was the turn of Ghanaian Catholics in Finland to lead the singing in the church service of the African Catholic Chaplaincy in Finland (ACCF).
It was indeed a spirit-filled feeling for worshippers present. And for the Ghanaian migrants, the occasion also brought back to them memories of church services in their home country, Ghana.
The ACCF has a roster for each country/community to sing from time to time. Next Sunday will be the turn of the Nigerian community. Other communities that usually sing are the Kenyan/Tanzanian community, the Cameroonian, the Ugandan, group, etc.
A powerful religious experience
The mass services of the Chaplaincy usually give a powerful religious experience and a display of cultural diversity, especially in occasions such as when the Bishop of Helsinki, Bishop Raimo Goyarrola, celebrated mass with the Chaplaincy on Pentecost Day, May 24, 2026.
There was a similar time of spiritual joy last month (September 27, 2026) when Emeritus Bishop Teemu Sippo, former Bishop of Helsinki, visited the Chaplaincy. Bishop Teemu was the main celebrant, assisted by the Chaplain, Reverend Father Thomas Otieno.
Last Sunday, Reverend Father Bernard Sor, a Ghanaian Catholic priest based in Austria, was the main celebrant in the mass service where he performed a rite of baptism. Fr Bernard had celebrated mass a few months ago when he visited his sister and her husband in Helsinki. 
All these well-attended religious occasions indeed leave lasting memories. The homilies (peaching) by the priests usually emphasize religious tenets such as the importance of loving and serving God in truth, existing in peace with our fellow humans to promote unity in diversity, etc.
Unity in diversity and a colourful display of cultures
The African Chaplaincy church services usually produce impressive displays of diverse cultures from different parts of Africa and elsewhere. The events are often spiced by rich cultural displays of dances and colourful attires which are a delight to watch.
On special occasions, members of the Ghanaian Catholic community, in their gay and colourful kente attire and with adowa dance and music, usually lead the procession into the church. Other communities such as the Cameroonian, Nigerian, Kenyan and Tanzanian as well as Sudanese/South Sudanese groups also put up well-choreographed performances from their cultures.
The African Catholic Chaplaincy in Finland
The African Chaplaincy was founded on June 4, 2017, which was a Pentecost Sunday, in a Pontifical High Mass celebrated by Monsignor Emeritus Sippo S.C.I., the then Bishop of Helsinki, at the St. Mary’s Catholic Parish Church in Helsinki.
The Chaplaincy was created by Bishop Teemu in collaboration with the Diocesan body when they detected a great flocking of African immigrants to Finland, the majority of whom were Catholics. This was to give the immigrants a possibility to integrate into the Finnish society by worshiping as Catholics and in their African cultural identity.
The responsibility of the Chaplaincy was given by Bishop Teemu to Father Dr Leonard Wobilla Shwei, who is thus the first Chaplain and ably led the Chaplaincy. He was succeeded a few years ago by Father Thomas Otieno, who continues to move the Chaplaincy forward. Thank you!
GHANA MATTERS column appears fortnightly. Written in simple, layman’s terms, it concentrates on matters about Ghana and beyond. It focuses on everyday life issues relating to the social, cultural, economic, religious, political, health, sports, youth, gender, etc. It strives to remind us all that Ghana comes first. The column also takes a candid look at the meanings and repercussions of our actions, especially those things we take for granted or even ignore. There are key Ghanaian values we should uphold rather than disregard with impunity. We should not overlook the obvious. We need to search for the hidden or deeply embedded values and try to project them.
With Dr Perpetual Crentsil
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She did not find out he was cheating. She found out he was drowning.
It was two weeks after their beautiful wedding. The jollof was still in the fridge. A loan officer called her number-not his-and politely asked, “Madam, please tell your husband to pay his overdue loan. We have been calling him.”
That was how she discovered her new husband had entered their marriage with a hidden debt of over GH¢ 40,000. No cheating. No other woman. Just a financial secret.
And that is how many Ghanaian marriages begin to die. Not with a shout, but with a secret alert on a phone.
We prepare for the wedding. We do not prepare for the wallet.
What is money honesty?
Let me define it simply. Money honesty is not that you both earn the same. It is that you both know the same. It is the ability to sit down and say without fear:
“This is how much I earn.”
“This is how much I owe.”
“This is how I was raised to see money.”
“This is what scares me about money.”
Financial transparency is not about control. It is about clarity. You cannot build trust on top of secrets.
Many couples tell me, “Counsellor, we love each other, love will handle money.” I always answer, “Love is the car, but money honesty is the fuel. Love without honesty cannot move.”
How To Buy Your Marriage Insurance Today – My 5-Step Protocol
If you are engaged, newly married, or even 20 years in marriage, you can still fix this. At Counsellor Prince & Associates Consult—CPAC, this is what I give couples:
Step 1: The 90-Minute Money Naked Session.
No phones, no blame. Each partner writes down on paper: Monthly income, monthly debts, monthly family obligations, savings, and your biggest money fear. Then you exchange papers. Read it. Don’t react for 24 hours. Just absorb.
Step 2: Create OUR Money, YOUR Money, My Money.
You need three pots. OUR money for rent, food, school fees, utilities, properties, and the like— joint contribution. YOUR money and MY money—a small agreed allowance no one questions. This stops the feeling of being controlled.
Step 3: The No-Secret Debt Rule.
Agree from today: No new loan, no new hire purchase, no new family financial commitment above GHS 500 without telling each other first. Not permission, but information.
Step 4: Talk About Your Money Personality.
Are you a Spender or a Saver? Are you Risky or Safe? Most Ghanaian marriages are a Spender married to a Saver. Neither is wrong. But if you don’t understand your partner’s personality, you will call his saving “stinginess” and her spending “wastefulness.”
Step 5: Do a Monthly 30-Minute Money Date
Not an argument date. Light, with tea. “How did we do this month? What worried you? What should we plan for next month?” Couples who do this divorce far less.
My Final Word
Before you say “I Do” at the altar, have pre-marital counselling and also have the money talk on the sofa.
Ask your partner:
“If I lost my job today, how long can we survive?”
“What debt are you bringing into this marriage?”
“How much do you send to your family monthly and will that continue?”
If he or she gets angry that you asked, don’t get married yet. A person who is angry about accountability will be abusive about money.
Marriage insurance is not bought at Star Assurance or Enterprise. It is bought in honest conversations when no one is watching.
The wedding costs one day. The marriage costs a lifetime. Don’t enter a lifetime contract and covenant with hidden costs.
You can still insure your marriage today.
Source:
Counselor Prince Offei, CPAC’s founder, is a leading Mental Health Professional, Marriage Counsellor, Author, ADR Expert/Arbitrator, and Spectator Newspaper Columnist. He writes on relationships, marriage, parenting, special needs support, and their connection to mental health. For therapy, counselling, or enquiries, contact Counselor Prince & Associates Consult (CPAC) in Accra on 0559850604 / 0551428486.
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