Wa West District in the Upper West Region has emerged as one of Ghana’s strongest examples of progress in the fight against poverty, recording a reduction of more than 37 percentage points in multidimensional poverty between 2021 and 2025.
Although the district has historically recorded some of the highest poverty and deprivation rates in the Upper West Region due to its predominantly rural and agrarian economy, recent findings show that Wa West dramatically reduced multidimensional poverty from 61.9 per cent in 2021 to 24.0 per cent in 2025, representing one of the largest improvements recorded nationally.
This was captured in a new report released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), titled Multidimensional Poverty in Ghana: Levels and District Rankings, 2021–2025, launched on Monday.
According to the report, Wa West, together with Sekyere Afram Plains, achieved the highest reductions in poverty levels across the country during the period under review, demonstrating the impact targeted interventions can have on deprived communities.
Speaking to The Ghanaian Times yesterday in a telephone interview, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Wa West, Mr Peter Lanchene Toobu, attributed the district’s progress to deliberate interventions aimed at improving livelihoods, education, access to water, agriculture and social protection.
Mr Toobu said support had been provided for hundreds of students to remain in school through educational assistance, while women and youth were empowered through business support initiatives to strengthen household incomes.
He said efforts were also made to expand access to potable water through borehole projects, support dry season farming under the “Water is Wealth” initiative, broaden social protection coverage for vulnerable persons through LEAP registrations, and provide assistance to farmers to improve productivity.
The MP added that community-driven development initiatives, support for security operations and interventions to facilitate economic activities in communities along the Black Volta had collectively contributed to improving living conditions and reducing poverty levels in the district.
The report noted that Ghana’s national multidimensional poverty rate declined from 24.3 per cent in 2021 to 23.0 per cent in 2025, with nearly 950,000 people moving out of poverty within the period.
Out of the country’s 261 districts, 250 recorded improvements in poverty indicators.
The multidimensional poverty index measures deprivation beyond income, focusing on access to education, healthcare, sanitation, electricity, clean water and employment opportunities.
Government Statistician, Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, said the findings showed that location still plays a major role in determining opportunities and quality of life in Ghana.
Despite the gains recorded in districts such as Wa West, the report highlighted persistent regional inequalities, particularly in the North East Region, where all six districts ranked among the 10 poorest districts in the country.
Yunyoo Nasuan District was identified as the most deprived district in Ghana, with more than half of its population living in multidimensional poverty.
Other highly deprived districts included Chereponi, East Mamprusi, Bunkpurugu Nakpanduri, Mamprugu Moagduri and West Mamprusi.
In contrast, Ayawaso North Municipal in the Greater Accra Region was ranked as the least deprived district, with only 5.5 per cent of residents classified as multidimensionally poor.
The GSS has urged policymakers to rely more on district-level data for development planning and resource allocation.
It also recommended that districts such as Wa West, which have achieved significant progress, share their development strategies with areas still struggling with high poverty levels.
The report concluded that although Ghana continues to make steady gains in reducing poverty nationally, significant disparities remain in access to basic services and economic opportunities across different parts of the country.
BY GORDON WELLU
Follow our WhatsApp Channel now! https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
