The Government of Ghana and Afrobarometer, the pan African nonpartisan survey network, have formally concluded an agreement establishing the organisation’s headquarters in Ghana following parliamentary approval of the arrangement in December 2025.
The agreement was officially marked during a handing over ceremony in Accra, where government officials and Afrobarometer representatives described the development as an important step toward strengthening democratic governance, independent research, and evidence based policymaking in Africa.
Afrobarometer operates in more than 40 African countries and is widely recognised for its large scale public opinion surveys that focus on democracy, governance, accountability, and quality of life issues across the continent.
The headquarters agreement provides a formal framework to support the operations of Afrobarometer’s secretariat in Ghana while ensuring compliance with the country’s laws and regulations.
Government Highlights Ghana’s Democratic Reputation
Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Khadija Iddrisu, Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the agreement reflects Ghana’s commitment to democratic governance, transparency, and citizen participation.
According to her, Ghana’s democratic progress over the past three decades has been strengthened by institutions that amplify the voices and experiences of citizens.
“Ghana’s democratic journey, spanning over three decades of constitutional rule, continues to be anchored in transparency, accountability, and citizen participation”.
Ambassador Khadija Iddrisu, Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
She stressed that effective governance must be informed by credible data and the lived experiences of ordinary people. “Central to this progress is the recognition that sustainable governance must be informed by the voices and lived experiences of the people,” Ambassador Iddrisu explained.
“It is in this regard that institutions such as Afrobarometer play an indispensable role.” The Foreign Affairs Ministry official noted that the government considers the presence of Afrobarometer in Ghana as beneficial to democratic development and policy formulation both locally and across Africa.
Afrobarometer Describes Agreement as Significant Milestone
Afrobarometer Board Chair, Amina Oyagbola, described Parliament’s bipartisan approval of the headquarters agreement as a major endorsement of the organisation’s work and mission across the continent.
According to her, the agreement symbolises more than a legal arrangement and represents recognition of the importance of amplifying African voices in governance and public policy discussions.
Ms Oyagbola noted that the agreement provides Afrobarometer with the institutional stability needed to continue producing trusted and independent research.
“It gives us the foundation and the stability to continue doing what we do best, producing rigorous, trusted evidence that strengthens democracy, accountability, and development across Africa”.
Afrobarometer Board Chair, Amina Oyagbola
She also praised Ghana’s support for democratic values and independent institutions, describing the country as an important partner in Afrobarometer’s continental operations.
Partnership With CDD Ghana Strengthens Research Capacity
Since its establishment in 1999, Afrobarometer has worked in Ghana through its Core Partner, the Ghana Center for Democratic Development, known as CDD Ghana. CDD Ghana has conducted all 10 rounds of Afrobarometer surveys in Ghana and currently supervises survey implementation across West, Central, and North Africa.
Over the past 26 years, Afrobarometer and CDD Ghana have contributed significantly to strengthening research and policy capacity in Ghana. The organisation stated that numerous Ghanaians have been trained in survey research, data analysis, and communication through its programmes.
Afrobarometer also noted that its pre election surveys conducted together with CDD Ghana have become an important part of Ghana’s electoral process. According to the organisation, the surveys provide critical insights that support transparency, build public confidence, and strengthen the credibility of elections.
Afrobarometer established its secretariat in Ghana in 2019 after identifying the country as a favourable environment for independent research institutions. Since then, all grants and financial operations for the network have been managed through Ghanaian financial institutions.
Officials say this arrangement has contributed to foreign exchange inflows and broader economic activity within the country. Afrobarometer also indicated that its activities contribute directly to Ghana’s economy through spending in the hospitality, tourism, and services sectors.
The organisation stated that establishing its headquarters in Ghana further enhances the country’s international profile as a centre for governance and policy research.
Afrobarometer’s Continental Influence
Afrobarometer has become one of Africa’s leading public opinion research institutions, conducting more than 440,000 interviews across 45 countries.
Its surveys represent the views of more than 75 percent of the African population and provide data widely used by governments, development agencies, researchers, and international organisations.
The organisation’s findings contribute to several major international governance and accountability indices, including the Ibrahim Index of African Governance, Transparency International’s Global Corruption Barometer, and the World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators.
Afrobarometer data are also used by international forecasting agencies and country risk analysts such as the Economist Intelligence Unit. The organisation maintains that all of its datasets are publicly available and can be analysed free of charge through its online data platform.
The headquarters agreement reinforces Ghana’s growing reputation as a centre for democratic governance and independent research in Africa. The arrangement is also expected to deepen collaboration between policymakers, researchers, and governance institutions while promoting evidence based decision making across the continent.
For Afrobarometer, the agreement secures long term operational stability and strengthens its ability to continue amplifying African voices through data driven research. For Ghana, the partnership further positions the country as a regional hub for governance, diplomacy, and international development institutions.
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