A fresh nationwide survey has placed unemployment at the centre of Ghana’s public concerns, with job scarcity overshadowing every other national issue. Findings released by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) show that almost half of those surveyed believe the lack of employment opportunities is the country’s most urgent problem.
The study, carried out in December 2025, gathered responses from more than 1,000 citizens across all regions. The results point to a strong public demand for policies that directly expand job opportunities, placing employment far ahead of other challenges confronting the nation.
Illegal mining, widely referred to as galamsey, followed as the second most significant concern. Three out of every ten respondents identified the activity as Ghana’s leading problem, reflecting mounting public unease about environmental degradation, contamination of water bodies and the future security of the country’s natural resources.
“46% and 30% of respondents indicated that unemployment and illegal mining, respectively, top the list of the most important issues facing the country today,” the IEA report stated.
Issues that have dominated national conversations in recent years ranked considerably lower in the survey. Corruption was selected by 9% of respondents, while 8% pointed to the state of the economy. Housing and transportation were cited by only 2.6% and 1.5% of participants respectively.
The results indicate that although governance and broader economic management remain important to the public, many Ghanaians are more preoccupied with immediate livelihood concerns and environmental protection.
According to the IEA, government interventions that successfully generate employment and enforce regulations against illegal mining are likely to receive strong public backing, particularly if citizens can see measurable outcomes.
The survey comes a year after President John Dramani Mahama returned to office, following his inauguration on January 7, 2025. The research body stressed that the government’s handling of these priority concerns could shape future public confidence in national leadership.
Despite the weight of these challenges, the poll found that President Mahama currently holds a 68% approval rating, suggesting sustained public optimism about his administration’s capacity to confront the country’s most pressing issues.
