Franklin Cudjoe, President of IMANI Africa, has voiced deep concerns about Ghana’s economic struggles and the government’s failure to ease the burden on its citizens.
His remarks come in response to a recent Afrobarometer survey, which found that a significant 82% of Ghanaians believe the country is headed in the wrong direction. Although still high, this figure marks a slight improvement from 2022, when 87% expressed similar discontent.
The survey highlights widespread dissatisfaction among Ghanaians with the country’s economic conditions and declining living standards.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue with Selorm Adonoo, Cudjoe called on the government to prioritize economic recovery over self-praise.
He criticized the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government for failing to deliver on key promises while relying on unfulfilled pledges promoted on radio and television in a bid to retain power. Cudjoe emphasized that Ghanaians need to see genuine care and practical support from their leaders, not just campaign rhetoric.
Ghana’s economic woes, he noted, are compounded by a depreciating cedi, high inflation, and prolonged International Monetary Fund (IMF) negotiations, all of which are severely impacting household incomes and leaving millions struggling to make ends meet.
“82% is quite staggering if you got negative 82% in an exam that is failed… People are really worried that the trajectory and the economic management of this country is at its toughest. And the fact that managing directors are not held, they are not answering questions about the economy, it’s actually worrying
“People think an election is just a one-day phenomenon, so people will forget. These are people who have stories of their lives based on the economy. And the challenges they felt all these years and they are going to represent them on the ballot. They just need a little bit more expression from the likes of Dr Bawumia. He’s launched an App to stabilise the cedi.
“Some businesses and individuals whose savings have been pickpocketed literally and a lot that has happened, a bit of care and support of these people that things will go right. Instead of the bravado and the bragging that goes on, I see it in the adverts, and I feel very disrespected and disappointed. Because I feel that these people should be answering questions directly that face people. All these will come to bite you.”
According to the survey, a large majority of respondents, representing 78 percent, believe Ghana’s economic conditions have worsened during the almost eight years of the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia administration, compared to the previous administration under John Dramani Mahama.
This perception of economic decline, compounded by issues related to job creation and price regulation, reflects broad dissatisfaction and highlights ongoing economic challenges that many Ghanaians feel have gone unaddressed.
The survey also found that 82 percent of respondents believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, a statistic that underscores widespread discontent.
