Reports
March 8, 2016
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The "2016 Top Priorities of the Emerging Class in Kenya, Ghana, and Cameroon" report, compiled by Yannick Lefang, offers valuable insights into the economic, political, and social conditions in these three African countries. The report, based on a January 2016 survey, specifically targets adults aged 18 and above living in urban areas.
Key Findings:
Economic Optimism: Historically, Sub-Saharan Africans in Kenya, Ghana, and Cameroon displayed considerable optimism regarding their economic prospects. However, in light of global economic challenges and declining oil and commodity prices, optimism has waned. A significant portion of respondents in these countries expressed concerns about the economic outlook for 2016, with Ghana being the most pessimistic.
Social and Political Concerns: Respondents in all three countries voiced concerns about the social and political environment in 2016. Ghana, in particular, had a high percentage of respondents expressing pessimism in both areas, partially due to rising living costs.
Cash Flow Management: The survey revealed that many urban residents in Kenya, Ghana, and Cameroon faced challenges with managing their finances, with six out of ten respondents frequently running out of money. Most respondents reported managing their finances on a monthly basis.
New Year's Resolutions: A majority of respondents in these countries made New Year's resolutions for 2016, reflecting their personal commitment to making improvements in various aspects of their lives, particularly concerning health and financial management.
Prioritizing Health and Finances: When asked about their resolutions, being healthy and improving cash flow management were the top priorities for respondents, aligning with their desire to address daily life challenges.
Positive Outlook for the Next Generation: Despite concerns about the current economic and social conditions, a significant proportion of respondents in all three countries believed that the youth in their countries would have a better future. Parents or those planning to have children were even more optimistic about the next generation's prospects.
Importance of Education: Education was considered a top priority by respondents, both in terms of their personal goals and as a focus for government policies. This emphasis on education underscores its role in economic empowerment.
Savings Habits: The survey revealed that most respondents were actively saving money, with a significant portion intending to use their savings to start a business, buy a house, or fund their children's education.
Overall, the report underscores the resilience and determination of the emerging class in Kenya, Ghana, and Cameroon in addressing challenges within their economic and social environments. While short-term concerns exist, a positive outlook for the future and a commitment to personal improvement are evident in the survey results.
Percentages from the Report:
Ghana exhibited the most pessimism regarding the economic outlook for 2016.
Six out of ten respondents frequently ran out of money, indicating challenges with cash flow management.
Education was a top priority for respondents, emphasizing its role in economic empowerment.
Methodology
The Kasi Insight Social Class Survey provides valuable insights based on online and desktop questionnaires conducted by our team in Canada and Africa. The survey primarily focuses on urban samples, unless otherwise specified.
The survey's results are derived from urban samples.Percentages presented in the survey may not always sum up to 100% due to rounding; however, unrounded numbers make up the topline "total" columns.
Certain questions included in the January 2016 survey are not presented in this report. These omitted questions have either been previously released or will be featured in future reports.
A survey done in Ghana, Cameroon, and Kenya:
Area probability design
Online questionnaires.
English (English/French in Cameroon).
Sample size: ~1000.
Margin of error: ±3.1%
Represents adult (18+) urban dwellers.
Gender weighting.
For in-depth information on our survey methodology and sample designs, please visit our website.
