Afrobarometer Secures Permanent Headquarters in Ghana

Mintesinot Niggusie

Afrobarometer, a pan-African nonpartisan survey network operating in more than 40 countries, has formalised its headquarters agreement with the Government of Ghana, cementing the West African nation as the permanent base for the pan-African survey network following parliamentary approval in December 2025.

The arrangement gives the organisation, which operates in more than 40 countries, a structured legal and operational framework for its secretariat in Ghana while affirming its compliance with local laws. Afrobarometer said the move strengthens its long-term presence in the country, where it has operated its secretariat since 2019.

The network, founded in 1999, conducts public attitude surveys across Africa on democracy, governance, and living conditions. It says its research reflects the views of more than three-quarters of the continent’s population, making it one of the most widely cited sources of citizen data in African policy debates.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Accra, Ambassador Khadija Iddrisu, chief director at Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the agreement aligns with the country’s governance priorities. “Ghana’s democratic journey, spanning over three decades of constitutional rule, continues to be anchored in transparency, accountability, and citizen participation,” she said. “Central to this progress is the recognition that sustainable governance must be informed by the voices and lived experiences of the people.”

Amina Oyagbola, Afrobarometer board chair, said the parliamentary endorsement reflects sustained institutional trust in the network’s work. “This agreement is far more than a legal instrument; it is a vote of confidence in our work,” she said, adding that it provides “stability” for producing evidence to support democracy and development across Africa.

Afrobarometer has worked in Ghana for more than two decades through the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), its core partner in the country. The centre has led all 10 rounds of national surveys and supports broader implementation across West, Central and North Africa.

Over the years, the organisation has also contributed to capacity building in Ghana, training researchers in survey design, data analysis and communication. Its pre-election surveys, conducted with CDD-Ghana, have become part of the country’s electoral information ecosystem, often cited for their role in enhancing transparency and public confidence.

Since establishing its secretariat in Ghana in 2019, Afrobarometer has channelled all grant funding through local financial institutions, a structure it says has contributed to foreign-exchange inflows and local economic activity linked to operations, travel and service procurement.

The headquarters deal formalises Ghana’s position as the organisation’s long-term base as it continues expanding its continental survey work and policy research footprint.