Odike warns of coup risk in Ghana, citing youth discontent and inequality

Businessman and Union Government leader Akwasi Addae Odike has issued a stark warning that Ghana’s continued socio-economic challenges could trigger a coup d’état, pointing to research which shows a significant portion of the population would support such a move.

Speaking on Angel FM’s Anopa Bofo programme on Monday, March 30, 2026, Mr Odike said the findings should serve as a wake-up call for political leaders.

“Fifty-six percent of Ghanaians say if there is an attempted coup, they will support it,” he stated. “With that research, what did the leaders do about it? What are they doing to change that mindset?”

While acknowledging that Ghana’s democratic system has resolved some past governance issues, Mr Odike argued that deep‑rooted problems remain. He identified widespread poverty, persistent inequality, and the unequal distribution of national resources as major threats to stability.

According to him, the concentration of wealth and opportunities in the hands of a few breeds frustration among the majority, creating fertile ground for unconstitutional takeovers.

The Union Government leader also called for reforms to strengthen multiparty democracy, arguing that a more inclusive political system would help reduce poverty, discourage self‑serving leadership, curb armed robbery, and break the entrenched “winner‑takes‑all” culture that has long defined Ghanaian politics.

His remarks add to growing public discourse on economic hardship and waning confidence in democratic institutions.