President John Dramani Mahama has a high job approval rating of 68 per cent one year after taking office, a nationwide poll by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has indicated.
The survey conducted in December last year polled over 1,000 people across all 16 regions in the country.
It indicated that despite concerns about socioeconomic issues, the public remained optimistic about the president’s performance.
Findings
“The findings suggest that Ghanaians are hopeful in President Mahama’s leadership, but very aware of economic and structural problems.
How these issues are handled will likely influence public views on governance and leadership in the future,” a release issued by the IEA yesterday to announce the poll results said.
The survey also highlighted significant concerns about the cost of living, with 71 per cent of respondents expressing strong worries about food prices and other consumer items.
It said unemployment and illegal mining (galamsey) were seen as the biggest challenges facing the country, with 46 per cent and 30 per cent of respondents citing these issues, respectively.
“When asked to identify the most important issue facing the country today, respondents point overwhelmingly to economic and governance-related problems, with unemployment and Illegal mining (galamsey) at the forefront,” it said.
“Nearly half of respondents identify unemployment as the most pressing national issue, making joblessness the most frequently mentioned concern,” the survey revealed.
This, it said, also highlighted the central role of employment in public perceptions of national well-being.
” Overall, more than nine in 10 Ghanaians (91 per cent) express at least some level of concern about rising prices.
The results show that although most people believe the president is leading the country in the right direction, challenges related to basic necessities remain unresolved and require his urgent attention,” it revealed.
Environmental concerns
It said the prominence of galamsey also highlighted widespread concern over environmental damage, water pollution and related health issues, and the long-term sustainability of natural resources.
It added that a smaller percentage of respondents mentioned corruption ( nine per cent) and the general economy (eight per cent) as the most important issues, while corruption and macroeconomic conditions remained important to many Ghanaians, they appeared secondary to the immediate challenges of finding work and protecting natural resources and the environment.
Therefore, policy efforts aimed at job creation and the regulation of illegal mining activities are likely to resonate strongly with the public, particularly if they produce visible and measurable results.
Background
The IEA said the survey was to assess public opinion on President John Mahama’s job performance and the prevailing socioeconomic pressures, including the cost of food, consumer goods and unemployment, and to better understand public sentiment one year after the 2024 election.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh
