President John Dramani Mahama continues to enjoy strong approval ratings among Ghanaians, with first-time voters emerging as one of his strongest support bases, according to findings from the June 2026 national tracking poll conducted by Global InfoAnalytics.
The poll, which sought to assess public opinion on the president’s performance, asked respondents whether they had previously participated in elections or whether they would be voting for the first time. The results revealed a notable difference in approval levels between first time voters and those with prior voting experience.
Providing insights into the findings, Executive Director of Global InfoAnalytics, Mussa Dankwa, said the data points to significantly higher support for the president among younger and newly registered voters.
According to the poll, 77 percent of first time voters approve of President Mahama’s performance in office. In contrast, 20 percent of respondents in this category disapprove of his performance, while 3 percent indicated that they had no opinion on the matter.
Among voters with previous electoral experience, the president also recorded a positive rating, although at a slightly lower level. The survey found that 71 percent of experienced voters approve of his performance, while 24 percent disapprove. Another 5 percent of respondents in this group said they had no opinion.
Implications for the 2028 Elections
The findings are expected to generate significant political discussion as parties begin to look ahead to the 2028 general election. Mussa Dankwa noted that the high approval ratings among first-time voters could have important electoral consequences if the trend is maintained over the coming years.
“This level of approval among first-time voters, if it stays high going into the 2028 election, will have significant consequences for the opposition”.
Executive Director of Global InfoAnalytics, Mussa Dankwa
Political analysts have long viewed first time voters as a critical demographic due to their ability to influence electoral outcomes. The latest figures suggest that President Mahama has established a strong connection with this segment of the electorate.
The data may also prompt opposition parties to reconsider their strategies as they seek to attract younger voters and those entering the electoral process for the first time.
Economy Remains a Key Factor
The June 2026 tracking poll also examined how voters who consider the economy an important issue assess the president’s performance. According to the survey, 73 percent of respondents who identified the economy as a key issue approved of the president’s overall performance.
The findings suggest that concerns about economic conditions do not necessarily translate into outright rejection of the administration. Instead, many voters appear to separate their assessment of specific policy areas from their broader evaluation of the president’s leadership.
Understanding Voter Behaviour
One of the more striking aspects of the poll relates to the attitudes of respondents who expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the economy. Mussa Dankwa explained that an analysis aimed at demystifying the president’s approval ratings revealed a complex picture of voter sentiment.
“Demystifying the approval rating has revealed that 63% of voters who say the government is performing poorly on the economy also approve of the job the president is doing”.
Executive Director of Global InfoAnalytics, Mussa Dankwa
The observation highlights the need for a deeper understanding of the factors that shape public opinion and electoral choices. According to Mr Dankwa, political actors should move beyond assumptions that dissatisfaction in one policy area automatically translates into a decline in overall support for a political leader.
“So, do more to understand voters’ psychology. You can hire consultants to conduct focus group discussions for you to get a better understanding of their behaviour despite what you perceive as government poor performance, instead of raining insults on the messenger.”
Executive Director of Global InfoAnalytics, Mussa Dankwa
Insights Beyond the Numbers
The June 2026 national tracking poll underscores the complexity of voter behaviour in Ghana’s evolving political landscape. While economic concerns remain an important issue for many citizens, the findings indicate that voters often consider a broader range of factors when evaluating a president’s performance.
The strong approval ratings recorded by President Mahama among first-time voters also point to the importance of engaging emerging segments of the electorate.
Whether these trends persist in the lead up to the 2028 elections remains to be seen, but the current data provides an early indication of the political dynamics that may shape future contests.
For now, the poll suggests that President Mahama continues to command substantial support across different voter categories, with particularly strong backing from those preparing to cast their ballots for the first time.
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