Cost of living is good under President Mahama – Citizens’ Perception Survey
A survey by the Citizens’ Perception Survey (CPS) 2025 on Governance has shown that 68.8 per cent of respondents believe the cost of living in their area in 2025 is moderate compared to 2024.
The report, presented by Prof. Smart Sarpong, Founder and Leader of Feedback Africa Limited, also revealed that three per cent of respondents said their living conditions have remained the same.
Based on the responses, the researchers concluded that, compared to 2024, the cost of living in 2025 has generally been moderate in many parts of the country.
The CPS 2025 Governance Report is a nationwide baseline study that examines citizens’ views on economic conditions, the performance of local and central government, ministerial effectiveness, and governance priorities. The survey covered 996 communities in 138 districts, including urban, peri-urban, and rural areas, and used in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with adult respondents.
Beyond the cost of living, the report assessed local government performance across ten key service delivery areas. Local government received a weak pass overall, with an average score of 43.9 per cent. Maintenance of peace and security (50.7%), access to potable drinking water (48.9%), and sanitation and garbage disposal (47.1%) recorded relatively better scores.
However, streetlight installation and maintenance (37.2%) and the provision and maintenance of market centres (35.2%) were rated as failing, pointing to major service delivery gaps at the district level.
At the central government level, citizens gave an overall pass, with an average score of 51.6 per cent across 14 indicators. Currency management received the highest score at 70.5 per cent, followed by price stability (69.2%) and agriculture and food security (60.1%).
Education delivery, the fight against corruption, Free SHS, and national unity and peace also received pass marks. However, industrialisation was rated as failing with 32.2 per cent, while job creation, road infrastructure development, and the fight against galamsey recorded weak pass scores.
In the sector performance ranking, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture emerged as the best-performing ministry in 2025. Respondents cited reduced food inflation, the Feed Ghana Programme, fertiliser support for farmers, and government purchases of farm produce such as rice and beans as key achievements.
The Ministry of Finance ranked second, with citizens pointing to reduced prices of goods and services, the removal of the e-levy and betting tax, inflation control leading to single-digit inflation, exchange rate stability, and cedi appreciation.
The Ministry of Education placed third, driven by the inclusion of private schools under Free SHS, efforts to phase out the double-track system, the “no-fees-stress” policy, improved discipline in schools, and improvements in the school feeding programme.
On overall performance, government received a 62.9 per cent rating in the “very good/good” category, while President John Dramani Mahama scored 74.4 per cent, indicating higher personal approval than the general government rating.
For 2025, respondents identified fixing the economy, improving agriculture, stabilising prices, addressing galamsey, fighting corruption, improving health and education, and creating jobs as the country’s top priorities.
According to Prof. Sarpong, the CPS is meant to provide structured feedback from citizens to help governments align policies with real-life experiences. The 2025 report serves as a baseline, with future surveys expected to track changes in public perception and expand coverage to more governance indicators…CONTINUE MORE READING>>>