BY Daniel Bampoe
Ghana’s democratic stability faces a fresh challenge as a growing segment of the population expresses willingness to support military intervention if elected leaders abuse their power, according to new findings from the 2024 Afrobarometer survey.
Conducted by the Centre for Democratic Development-Ghana (CDD-Ghana), the survey reveals that 51% of Ghanaians now endorse the idea of the military stepping in under such conditions.
This marks a significant 11-percentage-point rise from 40% recorded in 2022. At the same time, opposition to military intervention has declined, with the share of Ghanaians firmly against any military role in governance dropping from 55% in 2022 to 47% in 2024.
These findings were unveiled during a regional dissemination workshop in Kumasi.
The event was organised by CDD-Ghana in collaboration with the Centre for Community Livelihood Development, with support from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) under the Participation, Accountability, Integrity for Resilient Democracy (PAIReD) initiative.
The project is co-funded by the European Union and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, and commissioned by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The shift in public sentiment is particularly pronounced among Ghana’s youth.
The survey shows that 52% of respondents aged 18–25 support military intervention if necessary, a figure that climbs to 56% among those aged 26–35.
Gender dynamics also reveal a slight disparity, with 53% of men and 48% of women expressing similar views.
Presenting the report, Mavis Zupork Dome, Senior Research Analyst at CDD-Ghana, highlighted that Ghanaians remain divided on what should follow a potential military takeover.
While 41% advocate for a gradual transition back to civilian rule even if it takes years, 38% favour an immediate return to civilian governance.
Notably, 14% of respondents said they would not mind if the military remained in power indefinitely, provided it served the nation’s best interests.
The Afrobarometer findings come against the backdrop of growing frustration over governance, corruption, unemployment, and the perceived failure of successive civilian administrations to deliver on development promises.
Historically, Ghana endured a series of military coups between 1966 and 1981, before returning to constitutional rule in 1992. Since then, the country has been widely praised as a beacon of democracy in Africa, with regular peaceful elections and civilian leadership.
However, recent economic challenges, youth unemployment, concerns over corruption, and perceived political elitism appear to be eroding faith in democratic processes.
Jonathan Donkor, Technical Advisor at GIZ, underscored the importance of citizen participation in governance, arguing that including public voices leads to more responsive and effective policies.
He also emphasized the role of evidence-based initiatives like Afrobarometer in fostering accountability by bridging the gap between citizens and policymakers.
The 2024 Afrobarometer survey findings serve as a stark warning of a shifting democratic landscape in Ghana.
They highlight the urgent need for stronger institutions, greater transparency, effective governance reforms, and enhanced civic education to maintain the country’s democratic gains and discourage unconstitutional alternatives.
