Dr. Edem Selormey, Director of Research, CDD Ghana
The survey by the Centre of Democratic Development (CDD) which suggested that many Ghanaians do not believe President Akufo-Addo can fight corruption is being challenged by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
According to the report, it sampled the views of over 2,000 respondents from all 16 regions between May 23 and June 3 and concluded among other things that “Only about three in 10 Ghanaians or fewer are optimistic about government’s ability to fight corruption (30%), and promote collaboration between the ruling and opposition parties (25%).”
It added that “fewer than half of Ghanaians are optimistic that, in the next four years, the Akufo-Addo-led NPP government will perform “much better or better” in addressing educational needs (45%), providing reliable supply of electricity (44%), maintaining roads and bridges (44%), and providing water and sanitation services (43%). Only one-third (35%) are optimistic about government’s ability to reduce crime.
The report further said, “While Ghanaians are split (48% vs. 48%) on the government’s ability to ensure that rule of law is upheld in the next four years, majority are not confident in its ability to protect the country’s financial resources (53%) and curb corruption and official impunity (62%).
“Ghanaians are evenly split in their confidence in government’s ability to consolidate the gains made in the planting/rearing for food and jobs programme in the next four years, but a majority (61%) express lack of confidence in the government’s ability to expand the one million dollar per constituency initiative,” the report said.
It however noted most Ghanaians are hopeful that some things will get better in the second term of the Akufo-Addo government.
“In general, most Ghanaians expect changes in the way the Akufo-Addo-led-NPP government handles a number of national development issues in the next four years. Majority of Ghanaians (52%) are confident that the second Akufo-Addo-led NPP government will consolidate the gains of the Free SHS programme, but a similar proportion (57%) have no confidence in government to expand the one district one factory (1D1F) initiative across the country,” it said.
At the ceremony at CDD in Accra on Tuesday, NPP former National Chairman, Peter Mac Manu, expressed surprise at the outcome of the survey saying that he expected global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic would make Ghanaians to think of investment in health sector as a priority.
“It is serious, such that it means people will not tell the government they are happy with Agenda 111. But you if not don’t live how will you enjoy the roads?” he queried.
Later on radio, Mr. Mac Manu reiterated his disagreement with any survey that would seek to downplay the President’s effort in fighting corruption.
“If you look at the hullabaloo people are talking about you will be amazed. I mean look at what people are saying, it means that there is so much propaganda than the actual work that is going on. That’s the way that I see it from the result and we must look at actuals than propaganda,” he said.
Alex Segbefia, who represented the NDC at the report launch, advised CDD to juxtapose past findings of surveys with current ones in order to help the public appreciate the shift in perception of citizens.
Dr. Edem Selormey, Director of Research, CDD Ghana, who had given an overview of the report, indicated that aside unemployment, 36 per cent of respondents see education as well as infrastructure and roads as priority whereas 32 per cent regard management of economy as a priority while 19 per cent see health as a priority.
Issues of less priority to Ghanaians which averagely had 1 per cent of the respondents mentioning, included housing, food shortage, land tenure, social welfare, inequality, political instability and drought.
She explained that respondents were given the opportunity to mention at most three problems the country was facing that required the attention of government.
She also added that citizens expect government to increase investment in the area of education, infrastructure, healthcare and agriculture in case government decides to increase public spending.
Meanwhile, the interest for investment in the area of sanitation and support for less privileged, she said, remained low among citizens.
By Issah Mohammed