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General News of Thursday, 10 May 2012

Source: GBC

NPP: Bawumia stands by his comments on Inflation, G.S.S.

The spokesperson of NPP running mate, Dr. Mohamadu Bawumia, Yaw Boabeng Asamoah says Dr. Bawumia stands by his comments on the Ghana Statistical Service.

Speaking to Radio Ghana, Mr. Boabeng Asamoah said the comments should be taken by the Ghana Statistical Service in good faith since they were not meant to undermine the figures from the Service.

However, The Ghana Statistical Service has described the inflation analysis of the NPP Vice Presidential Candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as misleading and inaccurate.

At a news briefing in Accra, the Acting Government Statistician, Dr. Philomena Nyarko said Dr. Bawumia's analysis on the country's single digit inflation does not only undermine the current level of inflation but also the Ghana Statistical Service's indicators on inflation.

She said Dr. Bawumia's computation is more of a cumulative price change and not inflation. She further noted that it is inappropriate to calculate inflation using prices of few goods which are not used in the consumer basket analysis of the statistical service particularly cement.

In the meantime, An Economist, Dr. Joe Abbey has called for a stop in politicising the work of the Statistical Service.

Speaking on Radio Ghana's Current Affairs Programme, Behind The News, Dr. Abbey said if any politician has evidence to corroborate allegations that the Statistical Service is being manipulated, they should provide that evidence.

Dr. Abbey also asked for unqualified apology from politicians who accuse the Statistical Service of political control without evidence.**