Ghana plans to use newly compiled district-level poverty rankings to direct public investment and social spending toward underserved areas, as government seeks to narrow regional inequality that officials say is constraining inclusive economic growth.
Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Baah Forson in an address delivered on his behalf by his deputy, Thomas Ampen Nyarko at the release of District -Level Multidimensional Poverty Incidence, said that the new multidimensional poverty factsheets, covering all 261 districts between 2021 and 2025, would strengthen government’s ability to allocate resources more efficiently and measure whether public spending is translating into improved living standards.
The data, released by the Ghana Statistical Service, showed multidimensional poverty declined in 250 districts over the five-year period, though large disparities remain between urban municipalities and northern districts.
The findings are expected to influence budget planning, infrastructure deployment, social protection programmes and local economic development initiatives as Ghana works to stabilise its economy and sustain growth following recent fiscal pressures.
“Good economic management is not only about balancing budgets and maintaining macroeconomic stability,” Forson said. “It is also about ensuring that growth translates into improved living conditions for people across all districts of Ghana.”
According to the report, Yunyoo Nasuan District recorded the country’s highest multidimensional poverty incidence in 2025 at 51.6%, while Ayawaso North Municipal posted the lowest at 5.5%. The six poorest-performing districts were all located in the North East Region, underscoring persistent development imbalances between Ghana’s northern and southern economies.
The multidimensional poverty index measures deprivation across indicators including education, healthcare, housing, sanitation, electricity, clean water and employment access, providing a broader assessment of economic wellbeing than income-based metrics alone.
Forson said the data gives policymakers a more precise tool for targeting investment and evaluating the impact of state spending, particularly at a time when Ghana is under pressure to maximise efficiency in public finances.
The minister pointed to districts such as Wa West and Sekyere Afram Plains as evidence that targeted interventions can generate rapid socioeconomic gains. Wa West reduced multidimensional poverty from 61.9% in 2021 to 24.0% in 2025, while Sekyere Afram Plains cut poverty from 50.5% to 13.5%.
The report also identified districts where poverty worsened or stagnated, findings Forson said should trigger closer scrutiny of local development strategies and programme effectiveness.
For businesses and investors, the district-level data could provide a clearer picture of underserved markets, infrastructure deficits and regional demand patterns, particularly in sectors such as telecommunications, banking, consumer goods, healthcare and logistics.
The government said the rankings will also support evidence-based planning by Parliament, local assemblies and development agencies, while helping Ghana align spending decisions with its Sustainable Development Goals commitments.
Forson urged policymakers to use the rankings to guide investment decisions rather than political debate.
“The rankings should guide action, not stigma; guide investment, not politics,” he said. “The success of our economy must be measured not only by growth figures, but by the improvement in the lives and wellbeing of our people.”
