Fifty-nine percent of Ghanaians, according to the latest Afrobarometre report have reposed confidence in the Electoral Commission ahead of the December polls.
The Afrobarometre survey conducted by Civil Society group Centre for Democratic Development also found that 72 percent of Ghanaians had trust in the Ghana Armed Forces.
The report which surveyed 2,400 people nationwide between May and June also says over 60 percent of Ghanaians were not impressed with the economy.
Many Ghanaians also said they had confidence in Ghana’s courts. The EC, the Courts and the Military are key stakeholders in ensuring peaceful elections.
They are expected to play collaborative roles in the upcoming December 7 polls. The report however found that certain state institutions are very unpopular with Ghanaians as far as confidence in them is concerned.
According to the survey, majority of Ghanaians expressed trust in the army (72%); Electoral Commission (59%); the president (56%); law courts (56%); and opposition parties (54%).
In contrast, majority expressed mistrust in tax agencies (58%); the police (58%); local government body (55%); ruling party (52%); and parliament (50%).
The study found that an overwhelming majority (92%) of Ghanaians prefer choosing their leaders through elections. Only a tiny minority (7%) prefer other methods of choosing leaders.
An absolute majority (81%) of Ghanaians “strongly agree” and “agree” that many political parties are needed in a democracy.
Only a small minority (17%) “strongly agree” and “agree” that political parties are divisive and not needed.
Support for multi-’partyism’ increased by 24% from 2002 to 2012. Perceptions that political parties are divisive on the other hand declined by 20% over the same period.
A solid majority (74%) are “very or fairly satisfied” with democracy in Ghana. A quarter (25%) are “not at all or not very satisfied” with democracy.
