The study, dubbed "Business Tracker" is targeting businesses.

It would also evaluate measures put in place by businesses to mitigate the impact of the respiratory disease – COVID-19 as well as efforts towards building better recovery for businesses and cross border trade.

The outcome would inform policy directions, to protect jobs and safeguard the progress of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

According to a statement signed by Ms. Praise Nutakor, Communications Analyst of UNDP, the findings would also help to determine how to keep the promise of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) alive, as a tool to handle future pandemics, protect jobs and businesses, especially for the youth and women.

It said the socio-economic impact study was part of a broader partnership to strengthen capacities for economic and strategic policy development in response to COVID-19.

The roll-out of a soft loan scheme of up to GH?600 million, with a one-year moratorium and two-year repayment period for micro, small and medium scale businesses by the government, it noted, was a direct response to the adverse effects of the pandemic.

The statement encouraged businesses to participate in the survey to aid the government to come up with the right policies.

It added that "despite the minimal knowledge about the pathways and extent of effects,

coping strategies and preparedness of businesses to recover post-COVID-19, the exigencies of the ramifications of COVID-19 led to the government's policy intervention for businesses".

The pandemic was "not only a health problem but also a development crisis with enormous socio-economic impacts".

Its assessment would, therefore, require empirical data to ensure that recovery efforts were better directed.

The partnership, led by the GSS, included other government institutions, the UN system in Ghana, development partners, academia and private organizations.

COVID-19 has hit the world hard, changed the normal routine, the pattern of life and sent leaders scrambling across the world.

Globally, around 1.5 million people have been infected by the virus with about 90,000 killed.

Ghana's case count as of the past 24 hours stood at 313.

The government has taken a raft of measures including the closure of the country's borders, shelter in place, suspension of public gatherings and mandatory quarantine to fight the pathogen.