A nationwide survey has found that most Ghanaians believe the cost of living in 2025 is moderate compared to the previous year.
The findings are contained in the 2025 Citizens’ Perception Survey (CPS) on Governance, presented by Prof. Smart Sarpong, Founder and Leader of Feedback Africa Limited. According to the report, 68.8 per cent of respondents said the cost of living in their communities this year is moderate compared to 2024, while three per cent said their living conditions have remained unchanged.
Based on the responses, researchers concluded that the cost of living across many parts of the country in 2025 has generally stabilised.
The CPS 2025 Governance Report is a nationwide baseline study that examines citizens’ views on economic conditions, governance priorities, and the performance of local and central government institutions. The survey covered 996 communities in 138 districts, spanning urban, peri-urban and rural areas, using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with adult respondents.
On local government performance, the report recorded a weak pass, with an average score of 43.9 per cent across ten service delivery indicators. Relatively better ratings were recorded for maintenance of peace and security (50.7%), access to potable drinking water (48.9%), and sanitation and waste management (47.1%). However, streetlight installation and maintenance (37.2%) and provision of market centres (35.2%) were rated poorly.
At the central government level, citizens awarded an overall pass, with an average score of 51.6 per cent across 14 indicators. Management of the currency received the highest rating at 70.5 per cent, followed by stability in prices of goods and services (69.2%) and agriculture and food security (60.1%).
Education delivery, the fight against corruption, Free SHS and national unity also received pass marks. Industrialisation was rated as failing, while job creation, road infrastructure development and the fight against illegal mining (galamsey) received weak pass scores.
In the assessment of ministerial performance, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture emerged as the top-performing ministry in 2025. Respondents cited reduced food inflation, the Feed Ghana Programme, fertiliser support for farmers and government purchases of farm produce as key achievements.
The Ministry of Finance ranked second, with citizens pointing to reduced prices of goods and services, removal of the e-levy and betting tax, exchange rate stability, cedi appreciation and inflation control. The Ministry of Education placed third, driven by reforms under Free SHS, efforts to end the double-track system, and improvements in the school feeding programme.
The survey also measured overall government and presidential performance. Government received a 62.9 per cent approval rating in the “good/very good” category, while President John Dramani Mahama recorded a higher approval rating of 74.4 per cent.
Respondents identified fixing the economy, improving agriculture, stabilising prices, tackling galamsey, fighting corruption, improving health and education, and creating jobs as the top national priorities for 2025.
According to Prof. Sarpong, the CPS is designed to provide structured citizen feedback to help governments align policy actions with citizens’ lived realities.
Source: The Chronicle
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