Speaking to journalists on the findings, a Data Scientist at the GSS, Peter Yeltume Mwinlaaru, said the estimates were generated using Small Area Estimation methods that combined data from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey and the 2022 Population and Housing Census.

He explained that the methodology allowed the Service to move beyond national and regional averages to produce more precise district-level estimates, uncovering 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,” Mr Mwinlaaru said.

He defined excessive alcohol consumption 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 several districts in the North East and Savannah regions recorded particularly high levels of excessive alcohol intake, with more than 60 per cent of men engaging in such behaviour.

“These levels are very worrying. Even where a region appears to have relatively low averages, disaggregating the data to the district level reveals that some districts are performing far worse than others,” he noted.

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

He stressed that 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 added that high levels of excessive alcohol intake also have broader economic and social consequences, including reduced productivity, increased healthcare costs and added pressure on households and public health systems.

According to Mr Mwinlaaru, the aim of the small area estimates is not to identify the causes of alcohol consumption, but to highlight where the problem is most severe in order to support targeted policy interventions.

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

The GSS said the district-level reports are intended to guide policymakers, researchers and development partners in designing effective public health and behavioural change interventions that respond to local realities rather than relying solely on national averages.