President Kufuor's approval rating slips

Majority of Ghanaians still believe President John Agyekum Kufuor is doing a good job in what is the lowest job-approval rating of his presidency, a Ghanaweb/Akoto/Amissah internet poll shows.

According to the poll taken between May 11 and 19, the nation's regard for the president, who has been beset by a raft of problems (Yaa Naa’s Murder, resignation of ministers) and controversies (MP Loans, SSNIT salaries, Travelmania) in the past two months, has dropped to its lowest level since he took office -- although he still has the approval of a majority.

In the poll of over 1500 visitors to the internet site ghanaweb.com, 57% said they approved of the way Kufuor is handling his job and 36 percent disapproved. The president’s job-approval rating is down 10 points from his 67% rating in mid-January of this year. His highest point was 72% in late April 2001 at the 100-day mark of his administration.

Enactment of a major increase in the minimum wage and the initiation of the reconciliation process gave him no measurable boost. Independent analysts say he was hurt by pending increase in utility rates, inaction on “loans” to MPs, and his seemingly inability to tackle corruption effectively.

“Unless the president quickly does something to halt the perception that he is slipping, his ratings could fall lower. The honeymoon is over and people are looking for results," says Kwabena Oduro, a political scientist. He warns that if Kufuor's job-approval drops below 50%, it will embolden the opposition NDC to attack and encourage some NPP members to ask for ministerial changes.

"Some people are already questioning how strong or effective he is,” he continues

"Come 2004, voters won't care a bit about what Kufuor's poll numbers were in 2002. But they will care how the economy is doing and whether his policies have worked," says John Addo, a journalist.

It must be noted that, 80% of visitors to ghanaweb live outside Ghana and 5-10% are non-Ghanaians.

Comments from Voters (Un-editied)

Considering the the magnitude of the problems left by NDC govt., the run down of the economy, the unwanton mismanagement of public assets, the total disregard for due process of law including failing to adhere to Supreme Court decisions and in many cases the the plain thievery and the protection of the thieves by the past govt, President Kuffour has my vote so far for the work he is doing.
--Eric Odotei

I am surprised to learn that JAK is just following World Bank -IMF conditons. Ghana needs original ideas
--atsu

The president is building a solid foundatioin, which should have been laid so many years ago. I will only side with those who are not happy with his work if only they can convince me that 1 1/2 years is equivalent to 20 years or so.
--OSWALD DAVID ADU

Kuffour is not the type of person to rule ghana as president, he is a killer by nature, he does not even look to be a leader of the nation we are just trying him if he can deleiver, we the NPP had lost confindence of him to be our leader, we need Nana Akufo Addo,the right to lead the NPP party. thanks,
--bob victor

Ghana under the leadership of Mr JAK will see much developments to better the lot of us. The evidences are clear for those who want to objective in analysis than being biased.The NPP has the right policies to alleviate the sufferings of the ordinary Ghanaian. The HIPC initiative will help Ghana alot. May God bless this leadership and give them long life.
Long live JAK ; Long live GHANA.
--Dickson Amoah

He is making a lot of mistakes that is sending the the nation back to another 10 years. His goverment is good for nothing.
-- Francis

TWO YEARS CAN NOT REPAIR WHAT HAS DISTROY FOR 20 YEARS
--KWAKU ASARE

I think JAK is completely confuse, he does not seem to understand or know his roles as a president. He is a non performer, afraid of JH Mensah and Akuaffo Addo for a reason no one can understand.
Invesigations also reveals that he borrowed money from the King of Morocco with the view to selling Ghana Telecom to him. Those who voted for him, should now see the hell they brought to Ghana.
--Nii Ashie

Approved but the following areas of concern:
Security- spat of armed robbery sends wrong message to investors
The government's poor show on the Yendi chieftaincy affairs need to be addressed.
Kufour should sit at home and governed. The honey moon is over.
The president show be hard on his ministers. Most are arrogant and pro-corrupt. NDC should be given no chance. They got their chance and they failed. Publish records of the bad way they governed in abridged versions and in all local languages.
Take the zero-tolerance of corruption right to the civil and public service. Good luck Mr. President
-- John Kofi Opare

The most USELESS president Ghana ever had. Even Acheampong was even better
-- Kweku Gyimah

I and my family approve what president JAK is doing and I hope by four years time Ghana will be a better country in Africa and We, Ghanaians in American trying to come back home because a lot of them came to Ghana at the end of the year and early this year and they all very happy about what president was doing. Our greetings to everybody and long live President JAK.
-- Diana