Ghana is widely regarded as a model democracy in West Africa, characterised by regular elections, political stability and peaceful transfers of power since 1992. According to IDEA’s Democracy Tracker, Ghana ranks among the top 25 percent of countries globally in areas such as elected government, civic engagement and freedom of expression. Despite this context, civic space violations were documented around the December 2024 legislative and presidential elections.

Ahead of the elections, the sociopolitical environment was marked by misinformation, disinformation, heightened political tensions and polarisation. Economic pressures, including high inflation and rising living costs, had already sparked widespread mobilisation in previous years, with violations recorded during cost-of-living protests since 2021.

During the electoral period, digital surveillance, disinformation campaigns and harassment of journalists and activists intensified, negatively affecting civic engagement both online and offline. Public concern about threats to democracy and declining trust also grew. In late 2024, nationwide protests over electoral transparency, accountability and the illegal mining crisis resulted in arrests.

Following the 7 December 2024 elections, Ghana experienced a peaceful transfer of power from the ruling New Patriotic Party, led by Nana Akufo-Addo, to the opposition National Democratic Congress, led by John Dramani Mahama. This transition reinforced Ghana’s reputation for democratic stability. Economic developments, including a debt restructuring agreement and IMF disbursement, may help ease fiscal pressure and restore investor confidence.