Politics of Ghana

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Politics of Ghana
Constitution
Executive President (list) Nana Akufo-Addo Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia Ministers Council of State
Legislative Speaker of the Parliament Alban Sumana Bagbin Parliament Members of Parliament
Judiciary Supreme Court Chief Justice: Kwasi Anin-Yeboah Human rights
Elections Constituencies Political parties Politicians Electoral Commission Recent elections General: 2016 2020 2024
Administrative divisions Regions Districts
Foreign relations Ministry for Foreign Affairs Minister: Shirley Ayorkor Botchway Diplomatic missions of / in Ghana Nationality law Passport Visa requirements Visa policy
Africa portal  Politics portal Other countries
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Politics of Ghana takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the president of Ghana is both head of state and head of government, and of a two party system. The seat of government is at Golden Jubilee House. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and Parliament. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.^[1]

The constitution that established the Fourth Republic provided a basic charter for republican democratic government. It declares Ghana to be a unitary republic with sovereignty residing in the Ghanaian people. Intended to prevent future coups, dictatorial government, and one-party states, it is designed to establish the concept of powersharing. The document reflects lessons learned from the abrogated constitutions of 1957, 1960, 1969, and 1979, and incorporates provisions and institutions drawn from British and American constitutional models. One controversial provision of the Constitution indemnifies members and appointees of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) from liability for any official act or omission during the years of PNDC rule. The Constitution calls for a system of checks and balances, with power shared between a president, a unicameral parliament, a council of state, and an independent judiciary.

Shortly after independence, the dominant political party in Ghana established a one-party authoritarian system of government. Prior to its democratic transition in 1992, Ghana had one-party rule and military rule.^[2] The foundations of Ghanaian democracy are rooted in the 1992 Constitution which established an independent Electoral Commission and independent court system.^[2] The Economist Intelligence Unit rated Ghana a "flawed democracy" in 2022.^[3]