Ghana Statistical Service Commences Final Preparations for Nationwide Business Survey

The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has entered the final stage of preparations for one of the country’s most significant economic data-gathering exercises—the second phase of the Integrated Business Establishment Survey (IBES II). This national effort is aimed at strengthening Ghana’s economic data infrastructure and guiding future policy through reliable, up-to-date business statistics.

As part of the last preparatory activities, GSS recently organized a comprehensive training workshop in Winneba. The event convened 240 national and regional trainers who were equipped with the technical knowledge and operational tools required to oversee the fieldwork stage of the survey. This workshop represents the final step before the deployment of close to 4,000 field staff, supervisors, and technical personnel who will be assigned across all 16 regions of the country.

Set to commence in July 2025, IBES II Phase II will involve the collection of detailed economic data from over 40,000 enterprises carefully selected from various sectors. The data will be instrumental in revising key macroeconomic indicators, including the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the Producer Price Index (PPI), and the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). In addition to informing national accounts, the findings will also offer a clearer understanding of Ghana’s business landscape—shedding light on business structures, employment trends, investment patterns, innovation, and sector-specific challenges.

Speaking at the conclusion of the training, Government Statistician, Professor Samuel Kobina Annim, highlighted the importance of the survey in supporting Ghana’s economic transformation. “The success of this survey goes beyond data collection; it is about producing high-quality information that will serve as a foundation for sound policy decisions and long-term development planning,” he stated.

To facilitate efficient data gathering, the GSS will be utilizing Survey Solutions, a digital Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) platform designed to improve data accuracy and streamline field operations. In areas where technical limitations may arise, alternative tools—including paper-based and web-based questionnaires—have been developed to ensure uninterrupted data collection.

The current phase of IBES builds on the achievements of IBES Phase I, which was conducted in 2024 and successfully established a business register containing over 1.8 million enterprises across Ghana. The upcoming phase will draw its sample from 101 economic activities classified according to the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC) framework. This sample design will enable GSS to generate robust estimates not only at the national level but also for regional and, in some cases, district-level policy application.

Dr. Anthony Kraka, Project Coordinator for IBES II, described the training in Winneba as both a capacity-building initiative and a systems check ahead of the nationwide rollout. “This training has been essential in ensuring that everyone involved in the fieldwork understands the technical processes and data quality standards,” he said. “It is a critical step in ensuring consistency, accuracy, and credibility throughout the entire operation.”

GSS is appealing to all selected businesses to fully participate in the survey, assuring them that the information provided will be treated with strict confidentiality and used solely for statistical purposes. “This survey is not just for government use—it is for Ghana’s collective progress,” Professor Annim noted. He also urged public and private institutions, business associations, and regulatory agencies to support the survey and help raise awareness about its importance.

With the first results expected by December 2025, IBES II is poised to provide critical insights that will inform economic strategies, investment planning, and national development goals. Through initiatives like IBES, the GSS reaffirms its mission to deliver timely and relevant statistics to guide both public governance and private sector growth.