The latest Afrobarometer report by the Center for Democratic Development (CDD) said trust in Ghanaian institutions is at an all-time low, with many citizens expressing doubt about the Electoral Commission's ability to deliver free, fair, and transparent elections.
The data reveals a noticeable drop in public confidence in these institutions from 2012 to 2024, regardless of changes in government, indicating that successive regimes have not made significant strides in improving citizens' perceptions of these democratic pillars.
Speaking at the launch of Afrobarometer R10 on trust in institutions, corruption and elections, on Friday, October 25, the Director of Research at CDD Ghana, Dr.
Edem Selormey, expressed concern over the findings, highlighting a troubling trend that shows that Ghanaians' trust in key democratic institutions such as the judiciary, tax officials, the presidency, and Members of Parliament (MPs) has significantly declined. "Trust in key state institutions/officials witnessed marginal declines compared to 2022 but major declines since 2012. ▪ Three-fourths (74%) of Ghanaians say the level of corruption in the country increased "somewhat" or "a lot" over the past year, a 3- percentage-point decline compared to 2022. ▪ Only about a quarter (26%) of Ghanaians believe that people can report corruption without fear of retaliation, a decline of 4 percentage points compared to 2022." The Afrobarometer further stated that among key public officials, the police, the Presidency, tax officials, MPs, and judges and magistrates are most widely perceived as corrupt.