Afrobarometer report: 87% of Ghanaians believe the country is heading in the wrong direction
A new democracy risk report by Afrobarometer indicates that 87% of Ghanaians believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, just 141 days before the December 2024 polls to elect a new President and parliamentarians.
The report highlights a significant decline in satisfaction with democracy across Africa, with Ghana experiencing a notable drop.
In 2011/2013, 74% of Ghanaians were satisfied with democracy. However, this figure fell to 51% in 2021/2023, marking a 23 percentage point decrease and reflecting decreasing confidence in democratic governance among Ghanaians.
The Afrobarometer report also reveals differences in democratic support between the youth and the elderly in Africa. The youth show a greater tolerance for military rule compared to older citizens. The report states, “although Africa’s youth differ little from their elders in their support for democracy, they express a greater willingness to tolerate military intervention.”
In Ghana, there is a noticeable increase in acceptance of military intervention if necessary. The rejection of military rule decreased significantly from 86% in 2011/2013 to 68% in 2021/2023.
Additionally, the report underscores concerns about Ghana’s reputation for clean elections, which has been tarnished by increased violence, including eight fatalities during the 2020 presidential polls.
President Nana Akufo-Addo’s increasingly heavy-handed approach, including stifling the media and eroding institutional accountability, is also highlighted as a factor contributing to the growing dissatisfaction with democracy.
