Infrastructure development remains the single biggest priority for Ghanaians, ahead of public services and employment, according to new governance data that offers policymakers a snapshot of the issues citizens believe should receive the greatest government attention.
The Ghana Statistical Service’s Governance Series Wave 3 found that 34% of respondents identified infrastructure as the government’s most urgent priority, followed by services and social welfare at 31%, while 16% cited job creation.
The findings come as the government seeks to balance fiscal consolidation with demands for increased investment in roads, electricity, water systems and employment programmes.
Deputy Government Statistician Omar Seidu said the responses reflected practical concerns rather than political preferences.
“When we asked what they most want the government to fix, the answers were strikingly practical. Infrastructure comes first… roads, water, electricity, the basics of a dignified life. Services and welfare come next, then jobs.”
Demand for infrastructure was particularly strong in rural communities, where 38% prioritised infrastructure compared with 32% in urban areas, reflecting persistent disparities in access to essential public facilities.
The survey also suggests that citizens expect their participation in governance to translate into tangible improvements in their daily lives.
About 64% of respondents said ordinary citizens still have a say in public decision-making, although this declined from 68% recorded in the previous survey wave.
Meanwhile, roughly 34% said they did not influence government decisions.
Seidu said governments must move beyond consultation towards demonstrating that public engagement leads to visible policy changes.
“Ghanaians want more than just to be heard. They want to see their voices change something real, to point at a decision and say that, partly because of me, this has changed.”
The survey identifies significant differences across demographic groups.
Young people aged 18 to 24, older persons and unemployed Ghanaians were the groups most likely to feel excluded from decision-making.
“Those with the most at stake in Ghana’s future… are precisely the people least likely to feel part of the decisions that shape the country,” Seidu said.
Regional disparities also remain pronounced, with the Northeast and Savannah regions recording the highest levels of perceived exclusion, while Ahafo and Central regions reported comparatively stronger perceptions of citizen influence.
Despite those concerns, the annual trend points to improving civic participation.
Compared with 2024, the proportion of Ghanaians who felt they had no say at all in decision-making fell from 42% to about 30%, while those reporting no influence at all declined from 43% to 33%.
Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu said the findings demonstrate that governance reforms have produced measurable gains but require sustained attention.
“The progress we are seeing is real. At the same time, that progress is fragile. A good wave can slip. A bad wave is not a whole trend.”
He said the survey’s six-month cycle enables policymakers to detect changes quickly and adjust interventions before setbacks become entrenched.
The GSS is recommending greater citizen engagement through town hall meetings, participatory budgeting and regular public consultations, alongside targeted programmes for young people, older citizens, unemployed persons and persons with disabilities.
It also called for reforms to be tailored to regional conditions rather than relying solely on national policy announcements.
The findings also point to the need for the government to deepen engagement with the private sector through public-private partnerships (PPPs) to accelerate infrastructure development. Leveraging private capital and expertise could help bridge Ghana’s infrastructure gap while easing pressure on public finances.
