Unemployment Tops Ghana’s Urgent Issues: 46% Cite Joblessness as Top Concern in IEA Survey

A landmark national survey by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has identified unemployment as the single most pressing challenge facing Ghana today, with nearly half (46%) of respondents ranking it as the country’s top urgent issue. This finding significantly outweighs concerns about illegal mining (galamsey), which ranked second at 30%. The poll, conducted in December 2025 with over 1,000 Ghanaians, provides a critical snapshot of public sentiment one year into President John Dramani Mahama’s administration, highlighting a stark prioritization of immediate livelihood and environmental concerns over broader macroeconomic or governance issues.

Introduction: The Alarming State of Joblessness in Ghana

The persistent specter of unemployment has eclipsed all other national concerns in the eyes of the Ghanaian public, according to robust new data. The IEA’s December 2025 opinion poll reveals a population deeply anxious about the lack of employment opportunities, a concern that transcends regional, demographic, and political lines. This article delves into the survey’s methodology, unpacks the hierarchy of national problems as perceived by citizens, and explores the economic, social, and political implications of these findings. We will examine why job creation has become the paramount metric for evaluating government performance and what this means for policy direction in the coming years. The data suggests that while corruption and economic management are on the public radar, the daily struggle to find work and the visible devastation of illegal mining are generating more immediate and visceral public anxiety.

Key Points: What the IEA Survey Reveals

The IEA poll provides a clear, quantifiable ranking of Ghana’s challenges. The following points summarize the most critical data and their immediate interpretations:

Unemployment: The Undisputed Top Concern

A decisive 46% of Ghanaians identified unemployment as the nation’s most urgent issue. This figure represents a significant plurality and indicates that joblessness is not just an economic statistic but a daily reality affecting millions of households. The breadth of this concern suggests widespread frustration with the pace of economic growth that fails to translate into sufficient formal and decent job creation, particularly for the youth.

Illegal Mining (Galamsey) as a Close Second

The environmental crisis driven by illegal mining, or galamsey, was cited by 30% of respondents. This high ranking reflects growing public awareness and distress over deforestation, water pollution (notably of the Pra and Ankobra rivers), and the long-term degradation of Ghana’s land and natural resources. The issue connects directly to public health, agricultural productivity, and sustainable development, making it a potent hybrid of environmental and socioeconomic concern.

Corruption and the Economy Rank Lower Than Expected

Despite being perennial topics in political discourse, corruption was only ranked as the top urgent issue by 9% of respondents. The general state of the economy followed at 8%. This relative positioning is striking. It suggests that for many Ghanaians, abstract concerns about governance or macroeconomic indicators are secondary to the concrete, immediate problems of having no income or seeing their local environment destroyed. It may also indicate a degree of resignation or that these issues are perceived as less immediately solvable.

Infrastructure Issues Largely Marginalized

Critical infrastructure deficits in housing (2.6%) and transportation (1.5%) received minimal mentions. This could imply that these are viewed as chronic, long-term development challenges rather than “urgent” crises, or that their impact is felt less acutely on a daily national scale compared to the universal need for employment.

High Presidential Approval Amidst National Challenges

Notably, President Mahama maintains a 68% job approval rating despite these severe national concerns. The IEA posits this indicates a reservoir of public goodwill and hope that the administration can effectively address these top priorities. This creates a potential mandate for job-creation and anti-galamsey policies but also sets a high expectation bar for deliverable results.

Background: Context of the IEA Survey and Ghana’s Economic Landscape

To understand the weight of these findings, one must contextualize them within Ghana’s recent economic history and the specific timing of the survey.

About the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and the Poll

The IEA is a prominent Ghanaian public policy think tank known for its non-partisan, evidence-based research. Its national opinion polls are widely cited as barometers of public sentiment. This particular survey was conducted in December 2025, exactly one year after President John Dramani Mahama was sworn in for his second term on January 7, 2025. The sample size exceeded 1,000 respondents and was designed to be nationally representative across all regions. This timing is crucial, as it captures the public’s assessment of the new administration’s first-year performance and their prioritization of the agenda for the coming years.

Ghana’s Economic Journey: From Recovery to Persistent Joblessness

Ghana’s economy has shown resilience following the severe 2022-2023 debt crisis and IMF program. Indicators like inflation and currency stability have improved. However, this macroeconomic stabilization has not translated into robust, job-rich growth. The economy’s structure remains heavily reliant on commodities (gold, cocoa, oil) and the informal sector, which are not sufficient engines for mass formal employment. Youth unemployment, in particular, has been a chronic issue, with graduates from tertiary institutions often waiting years to find suitable employment. The public’s ranking in the IEA poll confirms that citizens measure economic success not by GDP growth alone, but by the tangible presence or absence of jobs.

The Galamsey Crisis: Environmental and Social Tipping Point

Illegal mining has escalated from a regulatory issue to a national security and existential threat. The practice, often involving foreign nationals and backed by powerful interests, has ravaged vast tracts of forest and polluted major water bodies with mercury and other toxins. The environmental damage has direct consequences for farming, fishing, and public health. High-profile media coverage, activist campaigns (like the “Stop Galamsey Now” movement), and visible landscape destruction have propelled the issue to the forefront of public consciousness, explaining its high ranking in the survey.

Analysis: Decoding the Public’s Priority List

The hierarchy of concerns revealed by the IEA poll demands deeper analysis. It reflects a public that is pragmatically focused on survival and immediate environmental threats, potentially at the expense of longer-term institutional reforms.

Why Unemployment Trumps Corruption in Public Anxiety

The 46% vs. 9% disparity is profound. Several factors explain this:

• Tangibility and Personal Impact: Job loss or the inability to find work affects income, dignity, family stability, and mental health directly and immediately. Corruption, while corrosive, often feels like a distant, systemic problem that individuals cannot personally solve.
• Perceived Solvability: The public may believe that a focused government effort on job creation (through industrialization, agro-processing, or public works) can yield visible results. Fighting corruption is seen as a complex, endless battle against entrenched interests with potentially fewer immediate, visible “wins” for the average citizen.
• Demographic Pressure: Ghana has a very young population, with over 35% aged 15-35. This demographic bulge creates an immense annual demand for jobs. The unemployment crisis is, therefore, a youth crisis, amplifying its urgency and political salience.

The Galamsey-Environment Nexus as a Primary Concern

Ranking galamsey so highly signals that Ghanaians are connecting environmental health to their own socioeconomic well-being. It is not just an “environmentalist” issue. Polluted water affects drinking and farming. Destroyed land affects agriculture and tourism. This shows a sophisticated public understanding of sustainable development. The 30% figure indicates that the issue has moved beyond specialist circles into mainstream, urgent political demand.

The Political Implications for President Mahama’s Administration

The 68% approval rating creates a paradox: high personal approval amidst high national concern. This suggests the public may separate the man from the office or the specific issues. The administration now faces a clear, data-driven mandate: deliver jobs and stop galamsey. Success on these two fronts will likely consolidate public support. Failure could see the administration’s approval erode rapidly, as these are not abstract policy areas but core promises affecting daily life. The IEA explicitly states that how these issues are addressed will “most likely influence public views on governance and economic management.” This is a direct warning that traditional political messaging about macroeconomic stability may fall flat if not coupled with concrete outcomes on the public’s top priorities.

Practical Advice: Policy Pathways and Civic Engagement

Based on the survey’s mandate, what practical steps can be taken by the government, private sector, and citizens?

For Policymakers: A Dual-Pronged Urgent Strategy

• Accelerate Job-Rich Growth: Move beyond GDP focus to track employment-intensive growth. Prioritize sectors with high labor absorption: modernized agriculture (agro-processing), light manufacturing, renewable energy installation/maintenance, and the digital/creative economies. Implement and scale up programs like “YouStart” with rigorous monitoring for actual job creation, not just training.
• Formalize the Informal Sector: Create incentives and simplified regulatory frameworks for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to formalize. Formalization brings workers into social protection schemes and increases tax base for development.
• Skills Alignment: Drastically reform Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and university curricula in partnership with industry to match the skills needed in the modern economy (e.g., cybersecurity, mechatronics, sustainable farming).
• Aggressive, Multi-Dimensional Anti-Galamsey Campaign: Combine military-style enforcement (Operation Vanguard 2.0) with community-based monitoring, alternative livelihood programs for miners, and land rehabilitation. Utilize satellite and drone technology for surveillance. Prosecute financiers and foreign collaborators swiftly and publicly to deter the practice.
• Transparent Public Works Programs: Launch a well-publicized, geographically dispersed public works program focused on environmental restoration (tree planting, land reclamation) and rural infrastructure. This provides immediate temporary employment while addressing the galamsey aftermath.

For the Private Sector and Investors

• Invest in Labor-Intensive Industries: The government should offer targeted tax incentives for businesses that create a net increase in formal jobs, particularly for youth and women.
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for Rehabilitation: Mining companies (legal ones) and other corporations should fund community-led land and water rehabilitation projects in affected areas, creating both environmental and employment benefits.
• Support SME Growth: Large firms can integrate local SMEs into their supply chains, fostering indirect job creation.

For Citizens and Civil Society

• Hold Leaders Accountable to the IEA Mandate: Use the survey data as a benchmark. Ask MPs and local officials: “What is your plan to create jobs in this constituency?” and “What are you doing to stop galamsey in our district?”
• Participate in Community Monitoring: Join or support community watchdog groups that monitor illegal mining activities and report them to authorities.
• Support Local, Sustainable Businesses: Patronize products from SMEs and agricultural ventures that operate sustainably, creating a market for ethical job creation.
• Utilize Data for Advocacy: Civil society organizations (CSOs) must use this clear public mandate to advocate for budget allocations and policies focused squarely on job creation and environmental protection, referencing the 46% and 30% figures.

FAQ: Addressing Common Questions on the Survey and Its Implications

Q1: Is this IEA survey scientifically reliable?

A: Yes. The IEA is a reputable, independent think tank. Its methodology involves random, stratified sampling across all regions to ensure national representativeness. A sample size of over 1,000 provides a reasonably low margin of error (typically +/-3%) for a population of Ghana’s size, making the findings a robust indicator of national sentiment.

Q2: Why did corruption rank so low (9%) if it’s often in the news?

A: The ranking measures perceived urgency, not importance. Corruption is likely seen as a pervasive, difficult-to-solve systemic flaw. In contrast, unemployment and galamsey are viewed as specific, urgent crises with potentially more direct intervention points (e.g., a new factory, a police raid on a galamsey site). The public may feel they can see immediate action (or inaction) on jobs and the environment more clearly than on grand corruption.

Q3: Does President Mahama’s 68% approval mean the public is satisfied with his handling of unemployment?

A: Not necessarily. The approval rating reflects overall confidence or hope in the leader. The poll likely captures a “honeymoon” effect or a belief that he is trying. However, it is a conditional mandate. The IEA’s own analysis warns that addressing these top issues will influence future views on governance. High approval now could decline sharply if job numbers don’t improve and galamsey continues unabated.

Q4: How does Ghana’s unemployment rate compare to other African countries?

A: While exact comparisons vary by methodology and definition (y