By Adnan Adams Mohammed
A new wave of political data has sent shockwaves through Ghana’s political landscape, indicating a massive surge in public support for President John Dramani Mahama.
According to the June 2026 National Tracking Poll released by Global InfoAnalytics, an overwhelming 77% of first-time voters now approve of the President’s performance, setting a formidable benchmark for the ruling administration ahead of the 2028 general elections.
The extensive survey, which interviewed 8,784 voters across all 16 regions between May 30 and June 12, 2026, shows that President Mahama’s overall approval rating has climbed to a historic high of 71%. This marks a notable four-percentage-point increase from the 67% recorded in March, representing the highest popularity rating tracked by the pollster since 2020.
The Youth Factor and Key Insights
The most critical takeaway from the findings is the administration’s deep entrenchment among the nation’s newest electorate. The 77% approval mark among newly registered voters suggests that the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) is successfully capturing the minds of the youth.
Mussa Dankwah, the Executive Director and Chief Pollster at Global InfoAnalytics, noted that this trend poses a significant threat to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and other opposition factions as they strategize for the 2028 cycle.
“This level of approval among first-time voters, if it stays high going into the 2028 election, will have significant consequences for the opposition,” Dankwah warned during the presentation of the data.
Dankwah further emphasized the unprecedented nature of the current momentum surrounding the presidency.
“This is a new high for any president in our regular tracking poll since 2020,” Dankwah added, pointing out that the cross-regional numbers demonstrate popularity stretching far beyond traditional party strongholds.
Public Sentiment and Polarization
Beyond the youth demographic, the tracking poll highlights a nation that is growing increasingly optimistic about its macroeconomic trajectory, even as partisan lines remain rigidly defined. According to the survey data:
● National Direction: 66% of respondents believe Ghana is moving in the right direction, while only 27% feel the country is on the wrong path.
● Standard of Living: 57% of citizens reported that their personal standard of living has improved compared to a year ago.
● Future Economic Optimism: An impressive 68% expressed firm confidence that their economic conditions will improve further in the coming months.
However, the data reveals stark polarization when broken down by party lines. While an overwhelming 91% of NDC supporters express satisfaction with the President, approval drops sharply to 37% among NPP loyalists, with 54% of them actively disapproving of Mahama’s governance. Crucially for future elections, independent and floating voters lean heavily toward the President, with 65% signaling their approval.
Lingering Obstacles for the Administration
Despite the celebratory numbers for the executive branch, pollsters caution that public goodwill is not a blank check. The survey identified critical socio-economic vulnerabilities that the opposition could leverage if the government relaxes its efforts.
Unemployment continues to be a massive thorn in the government’s side, with 44% of respondents citing it as the area handled least effectively. Furthermore, 54% of the population explicitly identified job creation as their most pressing daily concern, followed closely by 51% who pointed to broader economic stability.
With the 2028 elections still on the horizon, these figures suggest that while the Mahama administration holds a dominant hand with the incoming generation of voters, maintaining this momentum will depend heavily on turning high approval ratings into tangible, long-term employment opportunities for Ghana’s youth.
