A new nationwide survey by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) indicates that a majority of Ghanaians still approve of President John Dramani Mahama’s performance, even though his approval rating has dropped compared to late 2025 levels.
The poll, conducted in May 2026 across all 16 regions with more than 1,000 respondents, shows that 58.9% of Ghanaians approve of the President’s performance. About 28.4% disapprove, while 12.8% had no opinion.
The findings were released on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, in a report assessing public views on the President’s leadership 18 months after he assumed office in January 2025.
Although the approval rating remains higher than the disapproval rate, it marks a decline from the 68% recorded in December 2025.
According to the IEA, the results suggest continued general support for the President, but with rising expectations that improvements in the broader economy will translate into better living conditions for citizens.
The survey identified the economy as the leading factor behind public approval. Among respondents who approved of the President, 73.5% cited economic performance as their reason, while 16% pointed to road infrastructure. Energy and electricity accounted for 2.7%.
The report linked this positive perception of the economy to improvements in key macroeconomic indicators since January 2025.
It noted that inflation dropped from 23.5% in January 2025 to about 3.4% in April 2026. The cedi also appreciated by 26% against major foreign currencies. In addition, the Bank of Ghana’s policy rate fell from 27% to 14%, while average commercial lending rates declined from about 32% to 20%.
The report further stated that Ghana’s debt-to-GDP ratio reduced from 61.8% at the end of 2024 to 45.3% by the end of 2025. It also highlighted credit rating upgrades from international agencies including Fitch, Moody’s, and S&P.
However, among those who disapproved of the President’s performance, concerns about the economy also featured prominently, with 30.9% citing it as their main issue. Electricity supply followed closely at 29.9%, with respondents pointing to recent power disruptions in May 2026 that affected households and businesses.
Corruption was mentioned by 19.1% of disapproving respondents as a key concern.
The IEA concluded that while public sentiment remains broadly positive, many citizens expect further progress that will reflect more directly in their daily lives.
