Editorial: Prioritising inclusive national development…

A recent survey conducted by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) suggests that majority of Ghanaians have confidence in the management of the country’s affairs in sharp contrast to a few years ago, when they expressed a stoic disapproval.

According to the IEA survey, fifty-eight percent of Ghanaians endorse this position to which the IEA says, the result is not surprising considering macroeconomic gains recorded in 2025.

The strengthening of the cedi, together with broader macroeconomic improvements, have helped ease inflation which is reflected in a decrease in the price of fuel at the pump and in the cost of some imported consumer goods.

Inflation declined sharply from 23.8% in 2024 to 5.4% in 2025. Also, the cedi appreciated by about 32% against the U.S. dollar between 2024 and 2025. Other developments include the significant decline in the debt-to-GDP ratio from 61.8% at the end of December 2024 to 45% by the end of October 2025.

The reduction in the average lending rate (cost of borrowing) from 30.2% to 22.2% over the same period among others. Ghanaians are increasingly hopeful for a better tomorrow under the new government.

This notwithstanding, a sizeable minority of the population remains discontented about national progress, highlighting the fragility of public optimism. 34% of Ghanaians were registered in this bracket, exposing the need to address issues that directly affect everyday life.

The public opinion poll was conducted across all 16 regions of the country between 20th and 28th December 2025. While, doubts may linger, multidimensional poverty in the country, according the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), declined to 21.9 percent in the third quarter of 2025, confirming steady national improvement in living conditions.

The GSS estimates that more than 360,000 people exited multidimensional poverty between the second and third quarters alone. On a year-on-year basis, about 950,000 people moved out of multidimensional poverty between Q3 2024 and Q3 2025.

GSS’ latest Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) measures deprivation or poverty beyond income, capturing access to health, education, living conditions and employment through 13 indicators- including sanitation, housing quality, nutrition, health insurance, school attendance and job security.

Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu observed that data shows that while national progress is encouraging, “poverty remains uneven and deeply shaped by where people live, their education levels, and access to basic services”.

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