A new Afrobarometer study has shown that Ghanaians’ approval ratings on indicators of their government’s economic performance have declined sharply compared to 2017.
According to the survey, few citizens are content with the country’s economic situation and their personal living conditions, whilst majority say the country is headed in the wrong direction.
“Stillt more than half are optimistic that things will get better in a year’s time,” the survey indicated.
Ghana has received positive reviews from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank and made important economic strides, including the successful completion of the IMF bailout program and a clean-up of the financial sector.
But so far these successes appear not to have translated into concrete gains recognized by most citizens.
The findings revealed that three out of every 10 Ghanaians (30%) describe the country’s economic conditions as “fairly good” or “very good,” a modest decline from 35% recorded in 2017.
“Fewer than four in 10 (37%) say their personal living conditions are “fairly good” or “very good.” And only 31% say the country’s economic condition has improved over the past 12 months. But more than half (54%) are optimistic that things will be “better” or ”much better” in 12 months’ time,” it said.
Also, Six in 10 Ghanaians (59%) say the country is “going in the wrong direction.” The share of citizens who see the country as “going in the right direction” declined by 15 percentage points from 2017, to 35%.”
The survey also mentioned that Majority of citizens say government is performing “fairly badly” or “very badly” in narrowing income gaps (66%), improving the living standards of the poor (56%), and creating jobs (54%).
It said: “Approval ratings indicators of the government’s economic performance have declined sharply compared to 2017, with approval on management of the economy recording the steepest drop, by 20 percentage points.”
Source: Prosper Agbenyega