One of the most encouraging findings from the Ghana Statistical Service’s Governance Series Wave 2 report is the marked improvement in how Ghanaians perceive inclusiveness and responsiveness in governance.
A growing number of citizens now believe their voices carry weight in national decision-making. But beneath this hopeful change lies a persistent and uneven landscape of inequality.
According to the report, the share of Ghanaians who said the political system allows ordinary people to have a say rose significantly from 54.8% in Wave 1 to 68.4% in Wave 2.
This is an extraordinary gain within a short period and signals a potential shift in the relationship between citizens and the state.
It reflects improvements in civic engagement platforms, decentralisation efforts, community consultations, and heightened political awareness.
Additionally, those who felt completely excluded from decision processes dropped from 42.4% to 29.2%, a significant reduction. These numbers suggest that governance reforms and public participation initiatives are beginning to filter down to everyday citizens.
But the improvements are not felt equally across all demographic groups.
Youth, typically the most disillusioned demographic, showed one of the most dramatic turnarounds. Exclusion among young people aged 18–24 fell from 56.1% to 36.3%, indicating that youth-targeted programmes, political activism, digital civic spaces, and expanding employment initiatives may be improving the sense of belonging for younger citizens.
Senior citizens also reported major improvements, with exclusion dropping from 46.5% to 33.2%. For a demographic often sidelined in modern governance structures, this shift signals progress towards designing more age-sensitive public platforms and social welfare systems.
Similarly, persons with difficulty performing daily tasks, often overlooked in national planning, reported significantly lower levels of exclusion.
Their perceived exclusion fell from 47.4% to 27.2%, suggesting growing sensitivity to the needs of persons with disabilities within governance structures.
However, regional inequalities remain stark. The North East (55.4%), Upper East (45.3%), and Northern Region (43.3%) recorded the highest proportions of citizens who continue to feel excluded. These areas face longstanding gaps in infrastructure, digital access, administrative proximity, and social capital, all of which influence the sense of being heard.
The findings, therefore, carry a dual message: Ghana is becoming more inclusive, but the journey is uneven.
Regions with strong civic organisations, media presence, and local government activity tend to record higher inclusion, while underserved regions lag.
As Ghana continues to implement governance reforms, the Wave 2 findings highlight the importance of targeted interventions that close participation gaps. Inclusiveness must not only rise nationally; it must rise evenly.
Ultimately, the report shows that Ghanaians are eager to participate, and institutions are becoming more responsive.
But for inclusion to be meaningful and sustainable, the disparities across gender, region, disability, and age must be addressed deliberately and consistently.
By: Sheba Araba Bennin/Channel One Research Desk
