Public confidence in Ghana’s governance institutions remains low. This is despite the country possessing strong democratic foundations. A new report called the Governance Trust Barometer highlights this situation. It was released by the policy think tank Africa Policy Lens (APL).
The report found persistent gaps between how institutions are set up and how well they actually work. These gaps cause problems with trust, accountability, and the state's effectiveness. These issues limit the strengthening of democratic governance in Ghana. The Barometer uses citizen experiences to measure trust. It looks at how people perceive the state's performance in key areas.
Ghana maintains strong democratic legitimacy, especially in elections. However, this is weakened by widespread perceptions of corruption. This is identified as the main reason for low trust. Citizens see that laws and institutions exist. Yet they feel accountability is not always enforced. This creates a difference between how governance is supposed to work and what people experience daily. The report was unveiled in Accra on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.
Government communication also received low marks. Citizens are dissatisfied with how clear, honest, and responsive government communication is. The Government Communication index scored only 44.2. While citizens can voice their opinions, this does not always lead to real influence. The report uses a composite index ranging from 0 to 100. It covers institutional trust, corruption, accountability, rule of law, government communication, citizen voice, election confidence, political security, and civic participation.
Elections in Ghana are widely seen as credible. But civic engagement beyond voting is limited. Concerns about political intimidation and safety may play a role. The report suggests that citizens have limited engagement in activities other than voting. This could be due to feeling tired of participating, doubting their impact, or facing structural barriers. The APL report recommends addressing worries about political intimidation and selective law enforcement. It also calls for safeguarding civic freedoms. Promoting a climate of safe, open, and varied civic expression builds political security and trust.
The report suggests using Ghana's high electoral credibility as a foundation for wider governance reforms. Strong public trust in elections is a valuable asset. This trust can be used to boost legitimacy in other governance areas. By linking electoral trust to better accountability, responsiveness, and service delivery, the government can turn procedural strengths into real and lasting governance confidence. The Governance Trust Barometer is APL's first such report.