Ghana faces partisan democratic divides and SOE inefficiencies

In Ghana, political and economic analyses highlight growing challenges regarding democratic perception and state-owned enterprise (SOE) efficiency. Data from Afrobarometer surveys reveals a significant partisan divide in how citizens perceive the state of democracy. Perspectives on issues such as freedom of expression and satisfaction with democratic institutions often fluctuate based on whether a person's preferred political party—the New Patriotic Party (NPP) or the National Democratic Congress (NDC)—is in power.

Simultaneously, economist Professor Godfred Bokpin has called for urgent reforms within SOEs, specifically citing the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and COCOBOD. Bokpin noted that inefficiencies in these enterprises have resulted in a loss of between 2.5% and 3.2% of Ghana's GDP over the last 15 to 20 years. He warned that failing to address these financial burdens and the energy-sector shortfalls could eventually necessitate further interventions from the IMF and World Bank.