A rising number of Ghanaians are expressing support for military intervention in politics if elected leaders abuse their mandate.
This is according to the 2024 Afrobarometer report conducted by the Centre for Democratic Development-Ghana (CDD-Ghana).
The survey indicates that 51% of citizens believe the Ghana Armed Forces ought to assume control in such circumstances, marking an 11% point increase from 40% in 2022.
Conversely, opposition to military involvement appears to be waning. The proportion of Ghanaians who feel the military should never intervene has fallen from 55% in 2022 to 47% in 2024.
The findings were presented at a regional dissemination event held in Kumasi, organised by CDD-Ghana in collaboration with the Centre for Community Livelihood Development.
The programme was supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) under the Participation, Accountability, Integrity for Resilient Democracy (PAIReD) initiative.
The initiative is co-funded by the European Union (EU) and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs and commissioned by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
It is being implemented by GIZ in partnership with Ghana’s Ministry of Finance.
Particularly concerning is the demographic shift towards support for military intervention, with the Ghanaian youth representing a significant proportion.
Fifty-two percent of respondents aged between 18 and 25 endorse a military takeover should leadership fail, rising to 56% among those aged between 26 and 35.
Gender disparities were also observed, with 53% of men and 48% of women expressing support for military involvement under such circumstances.
Presenting the findings, Ms Mavis Zupork Dome, Senior Research Analyst at CDD-Ghana, highlighted that public opinion was divided regarding the pathway following a military takeover: 41% of citizens advocate a gradual transition back to civilian rule, even if it requires several years, while 38% prefer an immediate restoration of civilian governance.
A further 14% indicated they would not object to the military remaining in power indefinitely, provided it served the nation’s best interests.
Mr Jonathan Donkor, Technical Advisor at GIZ, underscored the importance of citizen participation in democratic governance.
“It is an undeniable fact that when citizen voices are included in governance, policies better serve people’s needs,” he remarked.
He further emphasised the vital role of data-driven initiatives such as Afrobarometer in bridging the gap between citizens and policymakers.
The 2024 findings reflect a growing disillusionment with democratic leadership in Ghana, particularly among the youth, and underscore the urgent need for strengthened governance, enhanced accountability, and expanded civic education to safeguard the nation’s democratic stability.
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