A Senior Research Associate at IMANI Africa, Dennis Asare, has revealed that more than 40% of Ghanaians are currently living in multi-dimensional poverty.
Speaking at the IMANIFesto event on November 5, 2024, Asare highlighted the severe socio-economic challenges facing the country.
He expressed concern over the widespread hardships experienced by many citizens, noting a decline in global governance indicators over the past seven to eight years.
In particular, Asare pointed to Ghana’s falling scores on the Corruption Perceptions Index, signaling a troubling trend in the country’s governance.
He explained that the current state of development places Ghana at a critical crossroads, grappling with pervasive public sector corruption.
Mr. Asare referenced the Worldwide Governance Indicators from the World Bank, which assess aspects such as government effectiveness, regulatory quality, and control of corruption.
While perceptions of government effectiveness might appear relatively positive, he argued that the underlying issues of weak corruption controls and ineffective regulations have significantly hindered public service delivery.
Recent data from Afrobarometer, according to Mr. Asare, show a troubling trend of rapidly eroding public trust in the government.
He pointed out that this growing distrust presents considerable challenges for Ghana’s future development as citizens become increasingly disillusioned with their leaders.
In light of these insights, Mr. Asare emphasized the urgent need for political party manifestos to truly reflect the realities faced by Ghanaians.
He called on political leaders to offer practical, actionable solutions that address the interconnected issues of poverty and corruption, stressing that restoring public trust is crucial for the country’s sustainable development.
