The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) concluded training for over 300 field officers as it prepares to launch the eighth Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS 8), a nationwide data-gathering effort focused on household living conditions, with a new emphasis on learning poverty.

This year-long survey will commence on October 31, 2024, covering 25,650 households across 1,710 enumeration areas in all 16 administrative regions of Ghana.

At the closing ceremony, Chief Statistician and Acting Director for the Communication and Dissemination Directorate, Johnson Owusu Kagya, highlighted the importance of maintaining objectivity and impartiality in data collection. 

He stressed that all GSS surveys, including GLSS 8, serve to provide accurate information to inform policy-making at every administrative level.

“It is wrong for any group to put a political color to this activity. Whether it's a census or any program, the idea is to gather credible data to guide decisions at the national, regional, district, and locality levels,” Kagya noted.

To ensure comprehensive data coverage, the survey has enlisted over 300 field officers. These include 38 supervisors and 38 senior interviewers who will oversee the interviewing teams. 

Officers will visit selected households up to five times during their 35-day stay in each community, allowing them to gather detailed data on a wide range of social and economic indicators, including education, health, and financial habits.

Mrs. Abena Asamoabea Osei-Akoto, GLSS 8 Project Coordinator, explained the survey’s emphasis on learning poverty, defined as the inability of a 10-year-old to read and understand a simple text.

The GSS has partnered with the Ministry of Education to assess basic literacy and numeracy skills, which will help policymakers address educational challenges. “Learning poverty will help us report on how the country is performing and inform the Ministry of Education to design interventions that address this critical issue,” she stated.

In addition to literacy, GLSS 8 will track household expenditures, agricultural activities, financial habits, and other socio-economic factors, providing a detailed picture of Ghana’s socio-economic landscape. 

Mr. Kagya further emphasized the survey’s role in GDP computation, saying, “Whatever information we get from households on expenditures will complement the data we receive from administrative sources, giving us a clearer understanding of the economy.”

The GSS has appealed to selected households to participate fully, as the success of GLSS 8 relies on accurate data.

Field officers will live in their assigned communities to foster rapport and ensure credible data collection. 

Mr. Kagya urged all respondents to cooperate, stating that this exercise will ultimately help shape policies aimed at improving the standard of living across Ghana.