Coronavirus: New data methods helping government of Ghana

Ghana Statistical Services (GSS), Vodafone Ghana, and the Flowminder Foundation are using innovative data science techniques to support the government’s response against COVID-19.

The long-standing Data For Good partnership between Ghana Statistical Services, Vodafone Ghana, and the Flowminder Foundation has enabled the production of rapid mobility estimates using anonymised and aggregated mobile phone data to support the government’s interventions against COVID-19.

The analysis aims to identify the extent to which mobility restrictions put in place by the government are being adhered to within districts, regions, and nationally.

These new mobility estimates will help the government understand how effective its restrictions have been and enable it to plan its next move in the fight against the virus.

Flowminder and the GSS have utilised anonymised, aggregated telecommunications data, provided by Vodafone Ghana, to provide the government with an analysis comparing changes in Vodafone subscribers’ mobility patterns since travel restrictions started.

The data, collected by Vodafone Ghana, is anonymised before it is analysed, removing any personal information to protect individuals’ identities.

The data are then looked at as a whole to see the big picture of how lots of people are moving, rather than individuals’ activities.

Prof. Samuel Kobina Annim, GSS’s Government Statistician adds: “Understanding changes in mobility patterns is important for the government to establish whether the current restrictions are likely to contain the spread of the disease and whether more or different, interventions should be put in place in the coming days or weeks.

This work shows the power of data and is a good example of how it can benefit everyone.”

Patricia Obo-Nai, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vodafone Ghana remarks: ‘’This milestone puts Ghana in a unique position as a trailblazer across Africa and offers an undeniable proof why data from mobile networks can become a force for the good of society.

Our commitment remains to positively impact the lives of people, businesses and communities through innovation and technology during this pandemic.

I am extremely happy that this data will help the country to better analyse and make predictions for the benefit of everyone at this crucial time.’’

Tracey Li, Data Scientist at Flowminder, explains: “The government of Ghana needs to understand how and when people are moving. From mobile data, we are analysing, for example, the number of Vodafone subscribers in each district or region, the number of subscribers travelling between districts and between regions, and the increase in movements out of Accra and Kumasi over the weekend. By comparing these data pre- and post-travell restrictions, we can assess how the regulations have affected people’s behaviour.”

Various analyses have been produced, including a focus on understanding movements out of Greater Accra and Ashanti over the last few days. Outputs have been shared with GHS to inform their approach to planning interventions.

Aggregated and anonymised mobile phone data can support interventions against COVID-19 by radically improving the government of Ghana’s understanding of population movements and the effect of mobility interventions at both national and local levels.

The data can be produced promptly through methods which fully preserve the privacy of all mobile subscribers.

As of 02 April 2020, there were 204 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ghana. Authorities have imposed a lockdown on the Greater Accra and the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Areas.

All individuals have been advised to stay at home and limit their movements as much as possible, while Ghana’s borders have been closed since Sunday 22 March.

Alongside this analysis, the GSS has developed a COVID-19 monitoring dashboard which will show data on the number of confirmed cases, the towns affected and the regions of the country with the most vulnerable people.

The intuitive interface allows users to interact with the data and tailor it to better understand the picture in specific areas. The dashboard was developed by the GSS with support from the ESRI, Fraym and the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (GPSDD).

The data provided in this dashboard will support the country’s interventions by providing disaggregated information to the public.