New district-level data released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has revealed wide disparities in excessive alcohol consumption among men across the country, with some districts recording prevalence rates exceeding 60 percent.  

Speaking to journalists on the findings, a data scientist at the Ghana Statistical Service, Peter Yeltume Mwinlaaru, said the estimates were generated using small area estimation methods that combined data from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) and the 2022 Population and Housing Census.  

Mr Mwinlaaru explained that the approach enabled the Service to go beyond national and regional averages to estimate outcomes at the district level, helping to uncover hidden pockets of vulnerability.  

“We estimated about six key indicators using small area estimation, and one of the indicators we focused on was excessive alcohol consumption,” he said.  

According to him, excessive alcohol consumption was defined as men aged 15 to 59 years consuming more than two standard measures of alcohol within a given period, regardless of the type of alcoholic beverage.  

The data showed that some districts in the Northeast and Savannah regions recorded particularly high levels of excessive alcohol intake, with more than 60 percent of men engaging in such behaviour.  

“These levels are very worrying; 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,” Mr Mwinlaaru said. 

He cited the Western Region as an example, noting that while some districts recorded relatively lower levels of excessive alcohol consumption, others within the same region showed much higher prevalence.  

Mr Mwinlaaru stressed that even districts classified as having “lower” levels of alcohol consumption should not be considered safe, since the ideal public health target 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.  

He noted that high levels of excessive alcohol consumption also had broader economic and social implications, including reduced productivity, higher healthcare costs, and increased pressure on households and public health systems.  

According to Mr Mwinlaaru, the purpose of the small area estimates is not to identify the drivers of alcohol consumption, but rather to pinpoint where the problem is most severe to support targeted policy action.  

“Our focus is to show where the challenges exist; further research can then explore the underlying causes and inform more tailored interventions,” he said.  

He said the findings underscored the importance of using district-level evidence to design effective public health and behavioural change policies, adding that reducing excessive alcohol consumption would contribute significantly to national health outcomes and economic well-being.  

The Ghana Statistical Service said the district-level reports were intended to guide policymakers, researchers, and development partners in designing interventions that respond to local realities rather than relying solely on national averages.