A new survey by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has revealed that non-standard measurement units such as olonka, cups, buckets, bundles and heaps remain widely used in Ghana’s food markets and households, despite significant differences in their actual weights across the country.
The findings are contained in the Service’s first-ever Non-Standard Units Survey (NSUS), released on Tuesday, July 7, 2026.
Presenting the report, Government Statistician Dr Alhassan Iddrisu said the survey provides Ghana’s first nationally representative data on the use of non-standard food measurement units, offering a stronger basis for producing official statistics.
According to the survey, the same measurement unit often represents different weights depending on the region, creating inconsistencies in food pricing, agricultural statistics and household consumption estimates.
The report also found that household food measurements vary considerably, even when using containers that appear to be standard, such as cups and margarine tins. At the farmgate level, differences in container sizes and filling methods further contribute to the inconsistencies.
However, the survey noted that container-based liquid commodities, including palm oil, showed greater consistency in measurements than solid food items.
To address the challenge, the Ghana Statistical Service has developed national conversion factors for major food commodities, allowing commonly used local measurement units to be converted into kilograms and litres.
The Service said the conversion factors are expected to improve the accuracy of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), agricultural production statistics and household consumption data, while enhancing evidence-based policymaking.
The GSS described the survey as a major step toward harmonising food measurement practices across the country and improving the reliability of Ghana’s official statistics.
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