By Boakye Stephen | Reporting for Ghanaian News Canada
Source Credit: Graphic Online]
Good evening. A nationwide survey by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), released on February 11, 2026, shows that 68 percent of Ghanaians approve of President John Dramani Mahama’s job performance one year after taking office on January 7, 2025.
The survey, conducted in December 2025 with over 1,000 respondents across all 16 regions, highlights a “mixed national mood” of strong political support alongside significant economic anxiety.
Approval Ratings:
Approve: 68%
Disapprove: 22%
No opinion: 10%
Most Pressing National Issues:
Unemployment: 46% identified it as the top concern.
Illegal mining (galamsey): 30% cited environmental and water pollution worries.
Corruption: 9% mentioned it.
General state of the economy: 8%.
Cost of Living Concerns:
The survey found that 71% of Ghanaians are very concerned about rising food and consumer prices, with 91% expressing some level of worry about inflation.
Quote from the IEA report:
“President Mahama maintains a solid base of public support, but there is an urgent need for sustained policy efforts in job creation and regulation of illegal mining to maintain public confidence as the administration enters its second year.”
Analysis | by Boakye Stephen :
While Ghanaians clearly feel the pinch of unemployment, inflation, and high living costs, the President’s performance on several key projects has been notable, and the good outweighs the bad. Initiatives in infrastructure development, energy supply, and social programs have contributed to positive public perception, reflected in the high approval rating.
However, the survey underscores that for sustained confidence, the government must continue to deliver tangible benefits to households, particularly by creating more jobs and regulating illegal mining. The public clearly expects a balance between progressive achievements and addressing pressing economic and environmental challenges.
This is Boakye Stephen reporting for Ghana News, Canada, with credit to Graphic Online for coverage of the IEA survey.
