Ghana Statistical Service to launch Integrated Business Establishment Survey on January 15

The Ghana Statistical Service is set to commence the Integrated Business Establishment Survey on January 15, 2024, across the country.

The survey, implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Association of Ghana Industries, the World Bank, and other stakeholders, aims to provide a comprehensive listing of all business units in the country and gather detailed data on their characteristics.

According to Professor Samuel Annim, the Government Statistician, Phase I of the survey will focus on creating a comprehensive business listing, while Phase II, starting in June, will involve a sample survey of selected businesses to obtain in-depth information on their activities.

The enumeration will cover both physical and online aspects, incorporating new modules on environmental data and digital finance.

The Government Statistician emphasized the importance of the exercise in producing an updated statistical business register for national development.

The collected data on business activities, locations, ownership, ages, and sizes will inform policy, planning, and monitoring of business growth. The use of tablets is expected to streamline the process, ensuring timely and efficient data collection.

“The exercise will provide an update on the employment status of workers employed by businesses, bridging the gap between the labour needs of firms and the available skills,” said Professor Annim.

Additionally, the survey will offer insights into the informal sector, guiding the development of policies aimed at formalizing the economy and improving worker welfare.

The last survey in 2013 documented 638,224 businesses, while the 2024 survey aims to enumerate 2.4 million businesses in the country.