Unemployment has emerged as the single most important issue facing Ghana today, with nearly half of respondents (46%) identifying joblessness as the country's biggest challenge, according to a new survey by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA).

The nationwide opinion poll, conducted in December 2025 and capturing the views of over 1,000 Ghanaians across all regions, revealed that concerns about job creation far outweigh other national issues.

Illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, ranked second, with 30% of respondents citing it as the most pressing problem facing the nation. The prominence of galamsey in the survey highlights growing public anxiety over environmental damage, water pollution, and the long-term sustainability of Ghana's natural resources.

"46% and 30% of respondents indicated that unemployment and illegal mining, respectively, top the list of the most important issues facing the country today," the IEA report stated.

Corruption, which has dominated public discourse in recent years, was mentioned by only 9% of respondents as the most important issue. The general economy was cited by 8%, while housing and transportation received minimal mentions at 2.6% and 1.5%, respectively.

The findings suggest that while macroeconomic conditions and governance concerns remain important to many Ghanaians, they appear secondary to the immediate challenges of finding work and protecting the environment.

The IEA noted that policy efforts aimed at job creation and the regulation of illegal mining activities are likely to resonate strongly with the public, particularly if they produce visible and measurable results.

The survey was conducted one year after President John Dramani Mahama assumed office on January 7, 2025.

The research institute emphasised that how these issues are addressed will likely influence public views on governance and leadership in the future.

The poll also revealed that despite these pressing concerns, President Mahama maintains a 68% job approval rating, suggesting Ghanaians remain hopeful about his administration's ability to tackle these challenges.