Ghana completes first survey to standardize local food measurements

The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has concluded its inaugural nationwide survey to standardize the measurement of locally traded food items, addressing long-standing inconsistencies in how Ghanaians buy and sell produce. The Non-Standard Units Survey (INSUS) covered markets, households, and farm gates across the country.

Dr. Iddrisu Alhassan, the Government Statistician, presented the findings, explaining that while local units like 'olonkà', bowls, bundles, and sacks are familiar, they often represent different weights in different regions. The survey's primary goal was to convert these commonly used local measurements into standard grams and kilograms.

"Every day food changes hands not in kilograms or litres but in bowls, bundles, heaps and buckets. These measures serve Ghanaians well, but they also carry a hidden cost because the same unit can represent different weights in different parts of the country," Dr. Alhassan stated. The GSS identified and weighed agricultural produce sold in these local units, establishing reliable national conversion factors.

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Every day food changes hands not in kilograms or litres but in bowls, bundles, heaps and buckets. These measures serve Ghanaians well, but they also carry a hidden cost because the same unit can represent different weights in different parts of the country.

The results, which will be available on an open web-based platform alongside a photographic library of measurement units, are expected to significantly improve the quality of agricultural statistics. The initiative will also strengthen the Consumer Price Index (CPI) by reducing bias in data collection and providing a more accurate reflection of how Ghanaians consume food. Dr. Alhassan clarified that INSUS measures the quantity represented by local units, while the CPI tracks the prices of goods in standard units, noting they are complementary.

Findings revealed significant regional variations. For instance, one 'olonkà' of dried white maize averaged 2.55 kilograms nationally, while cabbage heads varied from 0.42 kg (small) to 1.2 kg (large). Bundles of kontomire also showed considerable variation, though bottled palm oil weights were relatively consistent nationwide. The survey sampled 261 markets, approximately 2,000 households, and selected farmers across all crop-growing areas.

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The INSUS asks how much a local unit weighs, while the CPI asks how much a kilogramme of that commodity costs. They are complementary and not competing exercises.