A survey conducted by the Institute of Economic Affairs, (IEA), has identified unemployment as the foremost problem confronting the majority of Ghanaians today.
According to the survey, urban dwellers, females, and the majority of people living in the Western, Eastern and Central regions, identified unemployment as their biggest problem in Ghana today.
[contextly_sidebar id=”fXVQ9qvL1MCJZ9NU9hjA6nzDCNpU1fTc”]The survey, conducted between November and December, 2015, sampled 1,500 respondents from across the ten regions of Ghana, who were 18 years of age, and above.
Respondents were required to answer the question; “In your opinion, what is the most important problem confronting the nation?”
The survey report presented by the Head of Survey Unit at the IEA, Samuel Manu, shows “more than a quarter of the [1500] respondents, thus 25.80%, indicating that unemployment is the most important problem confronting the nation”.
In terms of gender dis-aggregation, more females (26.7%) than males (24.4%), identified unemployment as Ghana’s most important problem.
While at the regional level, more people in the Volta (42%), Eastern (29%), and Western (28%) regions, complained of unemployment than in the other regions.
Respondents also identified poverty and unreliable electricity supply respectively, as the two other most important problems confronting Ghana today.
Over 23% of the respondents marked poverty as Ghana’s second most important problem, while 16.30% said unreliable electricity supply was Ghana’s third most important problem.
However, majority of people in the Upper West (52.1%), Upper East (32.7%), Brong Ahafo (26.9%), Northern (25.8%) and Central (25.7%) regions, identified poverty as their foremost problem.
Other problems that respondents mentioned as facing Ghana include Corruption (9.9%), High Prices (7.9%), and Poor Education (3.2%).
Unreliable water supply (3.1%), poor infrastructure (2.9%) and low income/salaries (1.6%) were also mentioned.
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By: Sixtus Dong Ullo /Citifmonline.com /Ghana
Follow @ sixtus_gh