Accra, Ghana//-The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) and Afrobarometer on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, premiered a ‘Democracy Influencer’ documentary on the life and work of Professor Emmanuel Gyimah-Boadi.
The documentary premiere, which took place in Accra, highlighted his contributions to democracy and governance in Ghana, Africa and beyond.
Who is Prof Gyimah-Boadi?
Prof Gyimah-Boadi is a leading Ghanaian scholar and advocate for democracy, governance, and human rights in Africa.
He is the co-founder and former Executive Director of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), and the former boss of Afrobarometer.
As the co-founder of CDD-Ghana, the documentary is celebrating his more than three decades of bridging policy research and practice to promote good governance in Ghana and beyond
He and his co-founder, Prof Baffour Agyemang-Duah, set up the CDD-Ghana in 1998 as an NGO which has made significant achievements in helping chart the path to democracy in Ghana.
The Center has emerged as a leader in the generation and dissemination of high-quality public opinion surveys and other relevant data for effective advocacy and policy-making in Ghana and across the African continent.
The Center led in the mobilisation and organisation of civil society voice and activism on key national issues through the building of effective national coalitions and networks.
It has also led and provided important technical and analytic input for relevant public institutions and committees of Parliament, and championed decentralised and inclusive local governance.
In the area of elections, the Center has helped enhance voter participation in elections and improve the credibility of Ghana’s elections.
Prof Gyimah-Boad also championed the establishment of the Afrobarometer project, which collects public opinion data on political and socio-economic issues in more than 35 African countries.
Throughout Prof Gyimah-Boadi’s career, he has championed the cause of democratic consolidation and good governance both in Ghana and across the continent.
The documentary consequently celebrates his enduring legacy and contributions to democratic development in Ghana and beyond
Speaking to journalists after the premiere of the documentary, Prof Gyimah-Boadi said he was very humbled and proud of the role he has played in Ghana’s democratic journey.
He also used the occasion to express his gratitude for his life’s work and the opportunities he has had, shared his personal story and reflections on his career.
In his words: “I consider myself one of the luckiest persons on earth,” he said, adding: “Because I have been lucky in loving the things that I do. The subjects that I study, I enjoy them. Being an NGO leader, organiser, I enjoy doing analysis. Whatever I do, I truly enjoy it.”
Furthermore, the humble and affable Prof Gyimah-Boadi expressed gratitude for the people he has worked with, saying, “I’ve been lucky in the kinds of people that I work with. They have always contributed immensely to both my technical learning, my social learning.”
He attributed his success to having the right people around him and enjoying the work he does, which he said has led to positive outcomes.
Earlier, the Director of Partnerships and Policy Engagement at the CDD, Dr Kojo Asante, who was the Executive Producer of the Documentary explained the idea for the documentary which stemmed from a desire to document how institutions like CDD-Ghana have successfully transitioned, built and sustained themselves over time, even after their founding leaders have stepped down.
He underscored the importance of non-state institutions in promoting democracy, supporting democracy and holding people accountable.
The 36-minute documentary, which serves as a masterpiece of CDD-Ghana and Afrobarometer’s effort to honour Prof. Gyimah-Boadi’s life, work and legacy that have earned him global recognition, attracted some members of the civil society organisations (CSOs), academia, media, and the public.
The documentary featured tributes from notable personalities, including former President John Agyekum Kufuor; a co-founder of CDD-Ghana, Prof. Baffour Agyeman-Duah; the National Chairman of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah; Chairman of the Constitution Review Commission, Dr H. Kwasi Prempeh; veteran journalist, pollster and Managing Editor of the Daily Dispatch newspaper, Ben Ephson; and the Executive Director of National Media Commission, George Sarpong.
