The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Forestry Commission (FC), has commenced a National Policy Dialogue seeking to evaluate the contributions and sectoral linkages of the forest sector to Ghana’s economy.
Speaking at the event held on Tuesday at Alisa Hotel in Accra, Dr. Owusu Kagya, Director of Business, Industry and Trade Statistics, emphasized the importance of this dialogue in uncovering the forest sector’s potential for national development.
Delivering the opening remarks on behalf of the Government Statistician, Prof. Samuel Kobina Annim, Dr. Kagya highlighted the GSS’s mandate under the Statistical Service Act, 2019 (Act 1003) to provide official statistics that guide evidence-based policy planning and implementation.
He noted that recent initiatives like the GSS StatsBank and the GhanaStats Mobile App have enhanced data accessibility, aligning with the GSS’s vision to deepen the use of statistics for effective decision-making.
The event also underscored the forest sector’s economic contribution, with Dr. Kagya revealing that forestry and logging have historically contributed an average of 1.5 percent to Ghana’s GDP.
However, he pointed out that the sector recorded a -5.0 percent contribution to GDP in 2023, highlighting the need for detailed analysis to address challenges and maximize opportunities.
“Our reports had not been as detailed as the one we are considering today,” Dr. Kagya stated, emphasizing the importance of this comprehensive study.
The collaboration between GSS, FC, FAO, and the University of Georgia in conducting the study was praised, with Dr. Kagya expressing optimism that the findings would lead to targeted interventions.
He noted that the study’s insights would empower policymakers to unlock the forest sector’s full potential, contributing to sustainable development and national income growth.
As the dialogue progresses, stakeholders are expected to explore the policy implications of the study, focusing on enhancing the sector’s contributions to employment and GDP.
Dr. Kagya concluded by expressing gratitude to all partners involved, hoping the event would catalyze positive outcomes for Ghana’s national development.
