Nine in ten Ghanaians are worried about rising prices, with food and essential goods hitting households hardest, according to a recent nationwide poll by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA).
The survey, which polled over 1,000 people across all regions of Ghana in December 2025, found that 71 percent of respondents said they are very concerned about the prices of food and other consumer goods, while another 20 percent said they are somewhat worried.
Overall, nine in ten Ghanaians expressed at least some level of concern about rising prices, highlighting the economic pressures facing ordinary citizens, the IEA stated in a press release dated February 11, 2026.
The poll further identified unemployment as the most pressing national issue, with 46 percent of respondents naming it as their top concern. Illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, came second at 30 percent, reflecting widespread anxiety over environmental degradation and water pollution.
Corruption and the general state of the economy were mentioned by nine percent and eight percent of respondents respectively as the most important issues facing the country.
Despite the economic pressures, President John Dramani Mahama maintains strong public support, with 68 percent of Ghanaians approving of his job performance. The survey showed that only 22 percent of respondents disapprove of the president’s performance, while 10 percent expressed no opinion.
The IEA noted that the high approval rating suggests President Mahama has maintained a solid base of public support despite widespread socioeconomic challenges facing the country.
President Mahama assumed office on January 7, 2025, amid high public expectations following a challenging economic period characterized by high debt levels, currency depreciation, inflation, and unemployment.
The IEA noted that while most key economic indicators appear to be moving in the right direction, significant socioeconomic challenges remain. The survey was designed to assess public opinion on prevailing socioeconomic pressures one year after the 2024 general election, as well as to evaluate perceptions of the president’s job performance.
The findings paint a picture of a population living the daily realities of inflation, yet keeping a cautious eye on opportunities for change. The IEA concluded that the survey reflects a mixed national mood, strong approval of the president’s performance coupled with sustained concern about rising living costs and household economic pressures.
Earlier in January, another IEA poll revealed that 58 percent of Ghanaians believe the country is headed in the right direction, attributing the positive outlook to macroeconomic improvements in 2025, including a 32 percent appreciation of the cedi against the dollar and a sharp decline in inflation from 23.8 percent to 5.4 percent.
