Crisis Communication During Economic Downturns: Analyzing Government Response Strategies During Ghana’s 2022–2024 Economic Crisis

Abstract

This study examines how the Government of Ghana, under the New Patriotic Party administration, communicated during the 2022–2024 economic crisis and how these communication practices shaped public understanding, crisis framing and perceptions of trust and legitimacy. Guided by Situational Crisis Communication Theory, Image Repair Theory and framing theory, the research analysed three core areas: the crisis communication strategies employed by government actors, the rhetorical and framing devices embedded in official messaging, and the responses of citizens, civil society organisations, the media and international institutions. The study adopted a qualitative content analysis of presidential addresses, ministerial statements, press briefings, policy documents, media commentary and public reactions. The findings indicate that government communication followed a hybrid pattern characterised by external attribution, reassurance, selective empathy, justification and technocratic explanations. Framing choices consistently emphasised global shocks, national resilience and achievement narratives, while contentious issues, particularly the Domestic Debt Exchange generated significant inconsistencies that undermined credibility. Stakeholder responses highlighted growing scepticism, with civil society protests, critical media narratives and assessments from international actors revealing a widening gap between official communications and lived economic realities. The study concludes that effective crisis communication in prolonged economic downturns requires coherence, transparency and empathetic engagement with affected publics. Improved inter-agency coordination, clearer messaging and greater alignment between communication and policy outcomes are essential for sustaining public trust and strengthening the legitimacy of government responses during economic crises.