Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson has reaffirmed government’s commitment to using data-driven approaches to tackle poverty, as Ghana unveiled its first-ever district-level multidimensional poverty rankings aimed at sharpening policy targeting and resource allocation.
Speaking at the launch of the District-Level Multidimensional Poverty Incidence and Ranking Factsheets in Accra, Dr. Forson—who was the Special Guest of Honour—underscored the importance of credible statistics in strengthening fiscal policy, improving public spending efficiency, and accelerating inclusive growth.
The publication, released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), provides comparable poverty estimates across all 261 districts from 2021 to 2025, marking a turning point in how poverty is measured and addressed in the country.
Dr. Forson highlighted the critical role of reliable data in shaping Ghana’s economic recovery and long-term development agenda, noting that effective poverty reduction depends on aligning budgets with evidence and directing investments to areas of greatest need.
He pointed to Ghana’s recent completion of its three-year IMF-supported Extended Credit Facility programme as a key milestone in restoring macroeconomic stability, stressing that sustaining the gains will require targeted social and development interventions underpinned by robust statistics.
The Finance Minister also commended the Ghana Statistical Service for advancing the country’s data ecosystem, describing the district-level factsheets as a “powerful tool” for improving decision-making across ministries, Parliament, and local governments.
Dr. Forson reiterated government’s commitment to leveraging such data to guide fiscal policy and development planning, while Dr. Iddrisu urged all stakeholders to prioritise districts lagging behind.
Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, in his welcome remarks, framed the release as “historic,” noting that it ends years of reliance on broad national and regional averages that often mask disparities within districts.
“For the first time, we are able to consistently produce comparable multidimensional poverty estimates for all districts over multiple years,” he said. “This allows us to move beyond averages and bring statistics closer to communities and decision-makers.”
According to him, the estimates were derived using Small Area Estimation techniques, combining data from the 2021 Population and Housing Census with household and labour surveys conducted between 2022 and 2025.
The report shows that 250 out of 261 districts recorded declines in multidimensional poverty between 2021 and 2025, suggesting that investments in education, healthcare, and infrastructure are having an impact.
However, stark disparities remain.
Yunyoo Nasuan District in the North East Region recorded the highest poverty incidence at 51.6 percent in 2025, while Ayawaso North Municipal in Greater Accra had the lowest at 5.5 percent—a gap of more than 46 percentage points.
The six poorest districts are all located in the North East Region, reinforcing concerns about persistent regional inequalities. Poverty also remains concentrated in parts of the Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Savannah, Oti, and Bono East regions.
Dr. Iddrisu said the findings underscored the need for “precise, district-level action” rather than one-size-fits-all policies.
Speakers at the event emphasised the implications of the data for Parliament and local governance.
Dr. Iddrisu noted that Parliament can leverage the rankings to improve budget scrutiny, strengthen oversight of public expenditure, and ensure that resources are directed to the most deprived districts.
He also called on Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to integrate the findings into planning and budgeting processes, while urging development partners to better align support with areas of greatest need.
“The value of these rankings is not in naming districts. The value lies in guiding action,” he stressed.
The report highlighted notable improvements in some districts, offering potential lessons for replication.
Wa West District recorded the largest reduction in multidimensional poverty, dropping from 61.9 percent in 2021 to 24.0 percent in 2025. Sekyere Afram Plains also saw a significant decline, from 50.5 percent to 13.5 percent.
“These examples show that progress is possible, even in areas with previously high deprivation,” Dr. Iddrisu said, urging policymakers to study and scale successful interventions.
However, not all districts saw improvements. Guan District in the Oti Region recorded the largest increase in poverty, rising from 28.1 percent to 34.8 percent, while some others posted only marginal gains.
A central theme of the launch was the shift from income-based poverty measures to a multidimensional framework that captures overlapping deprivations in education, health, housing, sanitation, employment, and access to basic services.
Officials argued that this broader approach provides a more accurate picture of living conditions and enables more targeted policy responses.
“A household may earn some income and still experience severe deprivation,” Dr. Iddrisu explained. “This approach allows us to understand both the incidence and intensity of poverty.”
The event drew participation from key stakeholders, including the Minister for Local Government, Members of Parliament, representatives of development partners, civil society organisations, academia, and the business community.
Development partners and policy experts welcomed the initiative, noting that granular data improves accountability and enhances the effectiveness of donor-funded programmes.
The GSS announced that detailed factsheets for each district—covering poverty trends, drivers, and policy recommendations—have been published online for public access.
Stakeholders, including researchers, journalists, and businesses, have been encouraged to utilise the data to inform policy debates, investment decisions, and advocacy efforts.Speakers concluded with a strong call for coordinated, evidence-based action to sustain progress and close disparities.
“Statistics matter most when they improve lives,” the Government Statistician said. “This marks the beginning of a national responsibility to ensure that no district and no community is left behind.”
Source: businesspostonline
