After a difficult 2021, Ghanaians look forward with much optimism for a better year ahead with improved living conditions. According to a recent survey conducted by Afrobarometer, majority of Ghanaians, (54 percent), are hopeful that 2022 will be better or much better than 2021.

Out of the total respondents sampled from Ghana, 10 percent expect things to remain the same in 2022 as they were in 2021 whilst 20 percent expect things to get worse in the coming year.

In terms of optimism by country, Ghana ranked 12^th among the 34 African countries surveyed for the study. This suggests that next year looks more promising for people from Ghana than most of their counterparts from other African countries.

Overall, people from Cape Verde are much more hopeful that things will get better in the coming year. According to the survey, 73 percent of respondents in the Island nation expect things to better or much better next year. This is followed by Mozambique (72%), Lesotho (70%), Nigeria (64%), Botswana (64%), Togo (60%), Burkina Faso (59%), morocco (58%), Liberia (55%), Benin (55%), and Niger (54%).

This also means that within the West African sub-region, residents from five countries expect living conditions to get better in 2022 than those from Ghana, West Africa’s second largest economy. Ghana’s economy recorded an impressive 6.6 percent expansion in the third quarter of 2021 which shows that the economy has gained much momentum to return to its normal growth path.

Yet, as at the time the survey was conducted, growth averaged 3.5 percent in the first half of the year which means the optimism expressed by Ghanaians may become a reality should things remain the same or become better. However, that is conditional on whether the growth will translate into job creation and higher incomes for people’s living conditions to improve.

Least optimistic countries

Among the least optimistic countries in the coming year, as per the survey, are Eswatini, Mauritius, and Malawi. The proportion of residents in these countries that expect things to be better next year are 21 percent, 19 percent and 18 percent, respectively. In Eswatini, 64 percent of respondents expect things to get worse in 2022 whilst 12 percent expect things to remain unchanged. In Mauritius, 56 percent expect things to get worse as compared to 59 percent in Malawi.

“Africans may pride themselves on their optimism, but according to Afrobarometer surveys in 34 countries between 2019 and mid-2021, fewer than half (48%) think economic conditions in their country will be “better” or “much better” in 12 months’ time. That’s a larger proportion than those who expect things to get worse (30%) or to stay the same (15%) – but it’s hardly a rosy outlook”.
Afrobarometer

The non-partisan, Pan-African research institution, Afrobarometer, stated that the wealthy are more optimistic than the poorest (53% vs 40%), as are the youth on the continent (52%), compared to their elders (44% -47%). The hope expressed on the continent could mean that things aren’t looking too bad or people are rock bottom and can’t get any worse.

Respondents were asked: ‘At the end of a tough year, do you think things will get better or worse in 2022?’ The year 2021 has not been the easiest ever, with the covid-19 pandemic adding to the perennial challenges of getting work done and getting the kids to school (if there’s not a lockdown) and putting food on the table (even if there is).