By: Lucy Mawufemor Kpeglo
As the year draws to a close, findings from a public perception survey conducted by the Center for Public Discourse Analysis (CPDA) have provided fresh insight into how Ghanaians viewed President John Dramani Mahama’s first presidential press conference of the year.
The survey, conducted after the President’s first press conference this year, examined public perception of his leadership, communication style, preparedness, and understanding of national issues. The findings offer insight into how citizens assessed presidential communication during the year under review.
According to the findings, a majority of respondents expressed satisfaction with the President’s performance. About 58.7% of participants said the President provided enough information on issues affecting the country, while 54.5% believed he addressed controversial matters adequately.
The President’s demeanor and attitude during the press conference received the strongest approval. The survey shows that 81.8% of respondents felt he demonstrated the right attitude and conduct, suggesting strong public confidence in his leadership presence. In addition, 76.9% said they were impressed with the overall setup and organization of the press conference.
On more sensitive national concerns, opinions were more mixed. While 58% of respondents agreed that the President addressed the most pressing issues facing Ghana, 46.9% felt he did enough to address ongoing conflicts in the country. However, a notable number of respondents remained unsure, reflecting the complex nature of public expectations.
According to the survey, 69.2 percent of respondents said the President answered questions effectively. 21.7 percent disagreed, while 9.1 percent said they were unsure.
On preparedness, 76.9 percent of respondents believed President Mahama was well prepared for the press conference. 11.9 percent said he was not, and 11.2 percent responded “maybe.”
The issue of tone also received strong approval. 79 percent of respondents said the President demonstrated the right tone during the interaction. 14 percent said no, while 7 percent were undecided.
When asked whether the President connected with Ghanaians and carried them along, 68.4 percent answered yes. However, 21 percent said no, and 10.5 percent said maybe.
The survey further revealed mixed views on transparency. 62.9 percent of respondents said the President was transparent and open in his responses. 20.3 percent disagreed, while 16.8 percent said maybe.
On whether the President is on top of issues affecting the country, 64.3 percent responded yes. 17.5 percent said no, and 18.2 percent remained unsure.
Speaking on the importance of the study, the lead researcher,Associate Professor of Political Communication and Media Studies, Prof. Etse Sikanku,said the findings play a key role in strengthening democratic accountability.
“The significance of this research is that it contributes to democratic accountability and public assessment of the conference’s effectiveness and overall communicative impact, offering insights into how presidential communication is received and interpreted by the citizenry,” he said.
The CPDA survey adds to the broader national conversation on governance and communication, making it a relevant reflection point as Ghana reviews political leadership and public engagement over the past year.
