The nationwide research, whose findings were unveiled in Accra on Thursday, suggests a widespread perception that the Council of State is largely ineffective and lacking in transparency, prompting calls for its outright abolition or expansion of its powers.

Dr. Kojo Asante, CDD-Ghana Director of Policy Engagement and Partnerships, presented the "Citizens’ Expectations of Government: Insight from Post-Election Town Hall Forums" project, which engaged a diverse cross-section of 1,331 Ghanaians across 12 regions between February 25 and March 20, 2025.

The study's demographic reach was extensive, including 434 youth (15-35 years), 443 adults (36-59 years), and 109 elderly individuals (60+ years), alongside 132 persons with disabilities, with a gender split of 763 males and 568 females.

This comprehensive outreach, supported by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), underscored a collective dissatisfaction with the status quo.

A central revelation of the research is the public's scepticism regarding the Council of State's relevance.

Respondents widely characterised its advisory function as nominal and its influence on executive decisions as negligible.

Many expressed deep concern that the Council primarily serves as a rubber stamp for presidential directives rather than a robust, independent check on executive authority.

Dr. Asante highlighted this sentiment, stating, "If the Council of State must be retained, then it should go beyond a purely advisory role and have more power to influence governance meaningfully.”

Critics also lambasted the Council's opaque selection process, accusing it of being unduly swayed by partisan interests.

Beyond the Council of State, the CDD-Ghana research delved into a spectrum of critical national issues, offering pointed recommendations.

These include:

: The report advocates for aligning the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) with general elections to curb costs and boost voter participation. It further proposes non-partisan local elections and feasibility pilot projects before a national rollout. Participants also championed proportional representation in district assemblies to ensure broader inclusivity for women, youth, and marginalized segments of society.

: To foster a more robust separation of powers and enhance parliamentary oversight, the study urges the government to abolish the practice of appointing Members of Parliament as ministers. This, the report asserts, would significantly improve ministerial performance.

: Ghanaians are demanding a more aggressive stance against corruption, with recommendations focusing on strengthened enforcement and asset recovery. Participants also called for improved citizen reporting mechanisms and, notably, amendments to presidential immunity provisions to allow for prosecution in corruption cases – a bold proposal reflecting public frustration.

: The pervasive issue of illegal mining garnered widespread condemnation. Many respondents pressed for a national ban on 'galamsey' or the declaration of a state of emergency in affected regions. The urgent reclamation of degraded lands was also a strong demand.

: While acknowledging the benefits of the Free SHS policy, the research underscored serious deficiencies at the basic education level, citing poor infrastructure and limited learning materials as major impediments to academic achievement. Participants stressed the need for increased investment in foundational education, warning that "weak foundations at the basic level lead to poor literacy outcomes and limit success at the secondary and tertiary levels."

Dr. Asante underscored the imperative for policymakers to genuinely consider these citizen perspectives in their efforts to fortify Ghana’s democratic institutions and enhance public service delivery. The comprehensive findings are slated for submission to relevant state bodies, including the Constitutional Review Committee, to actively contribute to ongoing governance reforms.

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