New district-level data released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has uncovered alarming pockets of excessive alcohol consumption among men, with some districts recording prevalence rates of more than 60 percent, despite lower regional averages.
The findings show that parts of the North East and Savannah regions are among the worst affected, with a majority of men engaging in excessive alcohol intake, raising serious public health and socio-economic concerns.
“These levels are very worrying,” said Mr Peter Yeltume Mwinlaaru, a Data Scientist at the GSS, explaining that district-level analysis often reveals risks hidden by national or regional averages. “When you disaggregate the data, you find some districts performing far worse than others.”
According to the GSS, excessive alcohol consumption was defined as men aged 15 to 59 years consuming more than two standard measures of alcohol, regardless of the type of alcoholic beverage.
Mr Mwinlaaru cautioned that even districts classified as having relatively “lower” consumption levels should not be considered safe, stressing that the ideal public health benchmark for excessive alcohol intake is zero.
“Alcohol consumption is linked to several non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Reducing excessive drinking is therefore critical to improving health outcomes and preventing avoidable illnesses,” he said.
Beyond health risks, he noted that high alcohol consumption carries broader economic and social consequences, including reduced productivity, rising healthcare costs, and increased pressure on households and public health systems.
The estimates were produced using Small Area Estimation (SAE) techniques, which combined data from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) and the 2022 Population and Housing Census. The approach allowed the Service to generate reliable district-level estimates rather than relying solely on national or regional figures.
“We estimated about six key indicators using small area estimation, and one of the indicators we focused on was excessive alcohol consumption,” Mr Mwinlaaru explained, adding that the method helps identify “hidden pockets of vulnerability.”
He cited the Western Region as an example, noting that while some districts show relatively lower alcohol consumption, others within the same region record much higher prevalence, reinforcing the need for localised analysis.
Mr Mwinlaaru stressed that the objective of the district-level estimates was not to explain the causes of alcohol consumption, but to highlight where the problem is most severe to support targeted interventions.
“Our focus is to show where the challenges exist. Further research can then explore the underlying causes and inform more tailored responses,” he said.
The GSS said the district-level reports are intended to guide policymakers, researchers and development partners in designing public health and behavioural change interventions that respond to local realities, rather than relying solely on national averages.
According to the Service, addressing excessive alcohol consumption at the district level could significantly improve national health outcomes while easing long-term economic and social pressures.
