Accra, Dec. 22, – The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has released groundbreaking district-level data revealing significant disparities in excessive alcohol consumption among men, with some districts seeing prevalence rates soar above 60 per cent.
The findings, presented by Mr Peter Yeltume Mwinlaaru, a Data Scientist at the GSS, were developed using Small Area Estimation (SAE) techniques. This method integrates data from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) with the 2022 Population and Housing Census to provide a granular view of social indicators.
Identifying Hidden Vulnerabilities
Mr Mwinlaaru explained that by drilling down to the district level, the GSS has uncovered "hidden pockets of vulnerability" that are often obscured by broader national or regional averages.
“We estimated about six key indicators using small area estimation, and one of the indicators we focused on was excessive alcohol consumption,” he said. For this study, excessive consumption was defined as men aged 15 to 59 years consuming more than two standard measures of alcohol within a specific period.
Regional vs. District Realities
The data highlighted a crisis in specific areas of the North East and Savannah regions, where excessive drinking among men exceeded 60 per cent. Mr Mwinlaaru noted that regional averages can be deceptive.
“Even where a region appears to have relatively low averages, when you disaggregate to the district level, you find some districts performing far worse than others,” he said. He pointed to the Western Region, where certain districts showed much higher prevalence rates than their neighboring areas.
A Public Health and Economic Warning
The GSS emphasized that no district should be considered "safe" regardless of its ranking, as the public health target for excessive alcohol intake is zero.
The report linked high alcohol consumption to several critical issues:
Health Risks: Increased rates of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.
Economic Impact: Reduced labor productivity and increased pressure on household finances.
Public Systems: Higher healthcare costs and a strained public health infrastructure.
Data for Targeted Action
Mr Mwinlaaru clarified that while the GSS data pinpoints where the problem is most severe, it does not identify the specific drivers behind the consumption. He urged policymakers and researchers to use this "district-level evidence" to design localized interventions and behavioral change policies.
The GSS intends for these reports to serve as a guide for development partners and government agencies to move away from "one-size-fits-all" national strategies and toward interventions that respond to local realities.
GHBUSS
Dec. 22, 2025
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