This implies that with the current population of 31 million, 14 million Ghanaians are estimated to be multidimensionally poor.
The maiden Ghana’s MPI looks at poverty as a complex issue that transcends monetary deprivations and assesses the multiple pathways in which people experience poverty.
The report dubbed National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) which examined poverty beyond monetary deprivations was developed by the Ghana Statistical Service with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) of Oxford University.
The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has trained media practitioners to enhance their understanding and interpretation of results from Ghana’s maiden multidimensional poverty report, which examined poverty beyond monetary deprivations.
The national Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) report looked at how people experience poverty in their health, education, and living standards. The report, to be launched on 29th July 2020, was developed by the Ghana Statistical Service with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) of Oxford University.
The report which was launched on 29th July 2020 was preceded by a training exercise for media practitioners to enhance their understanding and interpretation of results from the maiden MPI.
About 30 Journalists from broadcast, print, and online media houses in Ghana who participated in the MPI virtual media training exercise expressed satisfaction in the capacity building opportunity and assured to help disseminate the key findings.
The training facilitator, Corinne Mitchell, Director of Programmes and Operations at Oxford Poverty & Human Development Initiative (OPHI), University of Oxford emphasized that developing an MPI report helps countries to complement monetary poverty statistics, track poverty over time, and strategically develop policies to target marginalized regions, groups and households.
“Countries like Sierra Leone and others have launched their Multidimensional Poverty report and it is informing their policies and other areas of development. I believe the launch of this report in Ghana is timely especially during this COVID-19 pandemic and will contribute to fast track the elimination of poverty and ensure no one is left behind”, noted Corinne.
The Multidimensional Poverty Index report was computed using data from the Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS) 2016/2017 and the harmonized 2011 and 2018 Ghana Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS).
Sustainable Development Goals one aims at eradicating Poverty, two ensuring Zero Hunger, three promoting sustainable Good Health and Well-being of all whiles four aims at ensuring Quality Education.
