By Daniel Bampoe
Reality is gradually dawning on the John Dramani Mahama administration as the popularity of the government takes a dip just a year and half of returning to power.
Even though the Mahama administration enjoys the support of a majority of Ghanaians nearly 18 months into his second term, a new survey by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) suggests that the government’s early political goodwill may be gradually eroding as citizens demand more tangible improvements in their daily lives.
The survey indicates a significant drop in the approval ratings of the administration in just five months, between December 2025 and May 2026 when a similar survey was carried out.
The latest nationwide poll released by the IEA on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, found that 58.9 percent of Ghanaians approve of President Mahama’s performance in office, while 28.4 percent disapprove and 12.8 percent remain undecided.
Although the figures indicate that the President still commands majority support across the country, the survey also revealed a significant decline from the 68 percent approval rating recorded in December 2025.
The findings come at a crucial moment for the Mahama administration, which returned to power in January 2025 on the back of promises to restore economic stability, create jobs through the 24-hour economy, tackle corruption and improve living standards.
Political analysts say the nearly 10 percentage-point decline in approval ratings within six months may reflect growing public impatience as many households struggle to feel the benefits of improvements being recorded in key macroeconomic indicators.
According to the IEA, the economy remains the strongest factor driving support for President Mahama. Among respondents who expressed approval of his performance, 73.5 percent cited economic management as the primary reason for their support, while 16 percent pointed to road infrastructure development.
Energy and electricity accounted for 2.7 percent of positive responses.
The survey noted that several economic indicators have improved considerably since President Mahama assumed office in January 2025.
Inflation reportedly declined from 23.5 percent in January 2025 to about 3.4 percent by April 2026. During the same period, the Ghana cedi appreciated by approximately 26 percent against major foreign currencies.
The report further highlighted a reduction in the Bank of Ghana’s policy rate from 27 percent to 14 percent, while average commercial bank lending rates dropped from approximately 32 percent to 20 percent. The debt-to-GDP ratio also reportedly fell from 61.8 percent at the end of 2024 to 45.3 percent by the close of 2025.
Despite these gains, the IEA survey suggests that many Ghanaians remain unconvinced that the macroeconomic recovery has translated into meaningful improvements in their personal circumstances.
Among respondents who disapproved of the President’s performance, 30.9 percent identified economic conditions as their main concern, indicating that while national economic indicators may be improving, many citizens are yet to experience corresponding relief in household incomes, employment opportunities and cost-of-living pressures.
Electricity supply emerged as the second most significant source of dissatisfaction, accounting for 29.9 percent of responses among those who disapproved of the President’s performance.
The concerns were linked to power supply challenges experienced in several parts of the country in May 2026, which disrupted business operations and affected households.
Corruption also remains a major concern among sections of the population.
According to the survey, 19.1 percent of respondents who disapproved of the administration cited corruption as a key reason for their dissatisfaction, suggesting that many citizens expect stronger action against graft and greater accountability in public office.
The findings come against the backdrop of growing public debate over issues including flooding in Accra, youth unemployment, cost-of-living concerns, energy challenges and ongoing discussions surrounding governance and public sector spending.
The IEA concluded that while President Mahama continues to enjoy broad public support, the decline in approval ratings serves as a warning that Ghanaians are becoming increasingly demanding and expect visible improvements in their everyday lives.
“The findings suggest that Ghanaians are broadly supportive of the President’s leadership but are expectant that the progress recorded at the macro level will increasingly be felt in their daily lives,” the report stated.
The survey was conducted in May 2026 and involved more than 1,000 respondents drawn from all 16 regions of Ghana.
