The latest Afrobarometer survey by the Center for Democratic Development (CDD) reveals a sharp decline in public trust in Ghanaian institutions, with many citizens expressing skepticism about the Electoral Commission’s ability to conduct free, fair, and transparent elections.
The report, launched on Friday, October 25, provides a comprehensive view of Ghanaians’ perceptions from 2012 to 2024, showing a steady decrease in confidence in democratic institutions, unaffected by changes in government. This trend, according to CDD’s Director of Research, Dr. Edem Selormey, reflects a growing crisis of confidence in key pillars of democracy, including the judiciary, the presidency, tax officials, and Members of Parliament (MPs).
Addressing attendees, Dr. Selormey noted, “Trust in key state institutions and officials has seen only slight decreases since 2022 but has plummeted significantly since 2012.” She emphasized that this erosion of trust has serious implications for governance and accountability.
Key findings from the report include:
- Rising Corruption Concerns: About 74% of respondents believe corruption has “somewhat” or “significantly” increased over the past year, only a minor improvement from 2022’s figures.
- Fear of Retaliation for Reporting Corruption: Only 26% of citizens feel they can report corruption without fear of retribution, marking a further decline in confidence since 2022.
- High Perception of Corruption in Public Office: The police, the presidency, tax officials, MPs, and the judiciary were identified as the most corrupt public institutions.
Despite the low trust in these institutions, 60% of respondents still consider the 2020 general election to have been “completely free and fair” or “fair with minor issues,” indicating some confidence in electoral processes.
The report’s release serves as a reminder of the challenges that remain for Ghana as it heads into the 2024 elections, with the CDD urging leaders to prioritize restoring public trust and tackling corruption to uphold democratic stability.
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