81.6% blame NPP’s 2024 defeat on economic mismanagement; 47.3% cite high cost of living – GIMPA-KAS survey

A post-election survey by the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) shows interesting results. The survey was done in collaboration with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS).

It revealed that 81.6% of voters blame the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) defeat on economic mismanagement. Among these, 47.3% specifically cited the high cost of living as the main issue.

Dr. Joseph A. Darmoe presented these findings during a report launch at GIMPA in Accra on June 3, 2025. The report is titled “Stocktaking Ghana’s Democracy: Voter Behaviour and Political Participation.”

The nationwide survey took place from May 8 to May 20, 2025. It sampled 16,988 registered voters across all 276 constituencies using a multi-stage probability sampling method. The study used computer-assisted personal interviews (CAPI) and achieved a 99% confidence level with a 1% margin of error.

Among those who blamed the NPP's defeat on economic issues, 8.7% pointed to corruption as a key factor for voting them out. Other concerns included the E-levy, disrespectful conduct by party representatives, and the betting tax.

Some respondents mentioned LGBTQ+ issues but only a small fraction did so. Additionally, the data showed that 73.5% of voters based their decisions on party programs and manifestos rather than personal loyalty or ethnic ties.

Regarding presidential candidates, 46.2% voted based on personal admiration for them. Meanwhile, 16.7% were influenced by tribal or ethnic loyalty.

Furthermore, 13.8% intended to punish the NPP government with their vote while