Ghana has, for the first time, produced comparable multidimensional poverty estimates across all its 261 districts, marking a significant shift toward more precise, evidence-based policymaking, Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu has announced.
Speaking at the official launch of District-Level Multidimensional Poverty Incidence and Ranking Factsheets in Accra on Monday, Dr. Iddrisu described the development as “historic,” noting that it moves the country beyond broad national averages to more granular data that reflects realities at the community level.
The event was attended by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, Members of Parliament, development partners, academics, and representatives from civil society and the private sector.
Dr. Iddrisu emphasised that the new data marked a major milestone for Ghana’s statistical system and decentralised planning, enabling policymakers to target interventions more effectively.
“For many years, national and regional averages helped us understand broad poverty trends. But averages can hide deep inequalities,” he said.
“Today, we are bringing poverty statistics closer to the people and to where decisions are made.”
The report covers the period from 2021 to 2025 and was developed using Small Area Estimation techniques, combining data from the 2021 Population and Housing Census, as well as household and labour surveys conducted between 2022 and 2025 across 13 wellbeing indicators.
According to the findings, 250 out of Ghana’s 261 districts recorded reductions in multidimensional poverty during the period under review—an indication that investments in social services and infrastructure are yielding results.
However, the gains are uneven. Yunyoo Nasuan District in the North East Region recorded the highest poverty incidence in 2025 at 51.6 percent, while Ayawaso North Municipal in Greater Accra had the lowest at 5.5 percent—highlighting a disparity of more than 46 percentage points.
Notably, the six districts with the highest poverty levels are all located in the North East Region, while broader patterns show poverty remains concentrated in parts of northern Ghana, including the Upper East, Upper West, Savannah, Northern, Oti, and Bono East regions.
The data also points to notable success stories. Wa West District reduced multidimensional poverty from 61.9 percent in 2021 to 24.0 percent in 2025—the largest improvement nationally. Similarly, Sekyere Afram Plains cut its poverty rate from 50.5 percent to 13.5 percent over the same period.
“These districts show that meaningful progress is possible, even in areas that once faced very high deprivation,” Dr. Iddrisu said, urging authorities to study and replicate successful interventions.
But some areas experienced setbacks. Guan District in the Oti Region recorded the biggest increase, with poverty rising from 28.1 percent to 34.8 percent. Several others saw only marginal improvements, underscoring the need for sustained action.
Dr. Iddrisu stressed that multidimensional poverty goes beyond income, capturing overlapping deprivations in education, health, housing, sanitation, employment, and access to basic services.
“A household may earn some income and still face serious deprivation,” he explained. “This approach helps us understand poverty more realistically—not just how many people are poor, but how they are poor.”
The data also links directly to Ghana’s commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those relating to poverty, health, education, water and sanitation, employment, and inequality.
Implications for Parliament and stakeholders
The Government Statistician highlighted the importance of the data for Parliament, noting that it can strengthen budget debates, improve oversight of spending, and guide constituency-level interventions.
“The evidence should help move discussions beyond broad national averages toward targeted interventions that respond to district realities,” he said.
He added that the rankings are not intended to stigmatise districts but to guide action, helping local assemblies improve planning, development partners align resources, businesses identify investment opportunities, and citizens demand accountability.
In addition to the national rankings, the Ghana Statistical Service has published individual factsheets for each district, providing trends, drivers of deprivation, and policy recommendations.
“These will be made available on our website immediately after the launch,” Dr. Iddrisu said, encouraging widespread use by policymakers, researchers, and the media.
Dr. Iddrisu underscored that the release should mark the beginning—not the end—of a national conversation on poverty reduction.
“Statistics matter most when they improve lives. Data has value only when it informs decisions and changes outcomes,” he said.
He urged stakeholders to prioritise districts lagging behind, sustain gains in improving areas, and replicate successful interventions nationwide.
“Let us align budgets with evidence, strengthen district planning, and ensure that no community is left behind,” he added.
The Government Statistician also commended the Ministry of Finance, development partners, and the Ghana Statistical Service staff for their contributions, noting that strong institutional support remains critical to producing reliable and policy-relevant data.
Source: businesspostonline
