By Paul Eduarko Richardson
Accra, Jan. 27, GNA – Most Ghanaians say they are happy and believe the country is headed in the right direction, a new public opinion poll by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) Ghana has revealed.
The poll, conducted between December 20 and 28, 2025, involved 1,022 respondents across all 16 regions.
It showed that 58 per cent of respondents were satisfied with the nation’s direction.
The IEA attributed the positive outlook to policies of the new government, which it said had improved economic conditions and renewed public confidence.
The Institute noted that the optimism presented an opportunity for the government to pursue bold structural reforms to sustain recent gains.
Highlighting macroeconomic improvements in 2025, the Institute cited the appreciation of the cedi by about 32 per cent against the US dollar between 2024 and 2025, and a sharp decline in inflation from 23.8 per cent to 5.4 per cent over the same period.
“The strengthening of the cedi, together with broader macroeconomic improvements, has helped ease inflationary pressures, reflected in lower fuel prices and reduced costs of some imported consumer goods,” the report said.
Other positive indicators identified included a reduction in the debt-to-GDP ratio from 61.8 per cent at the end of December 2024 to 45 per cent by October 2025.
Also is the fall in average lending rates from 30.2 per cent to 22.2 per cent, and gradual recovery from the effects of the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme.
However, the survey showed that 34 per cent of respondents were unhappy with the country’s direction, while eight per cent were undecided.
The IEA said the findings indicated that a sizeable minority of Ghanaians remained dissatisfied, underscoring the fragility of public optimism.
“This highlights the need to address issues that directly affect the everyday lives of citizens,” the Institute noted.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe