 Coat of Arms of the Republic of Ghana | |
 Jubilee House, theofficial residence andpresidential palace in the country. | |
| Government overview | |
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| Formed | Independence Day 68 years, 1 month Republic Day 64 years, 9 months 1992 Constitution 32 years, 10 months |
| Type | Parliamentary democracy with executive presidency |
| Jurisdiction | Republic of Ghana |
| Headquarters | Accra,Greater Accra |
| Government executives | |
| Website | www |
TheGovernment of Ghana was created as aparliamentary democracy, followed by alternating military and civilian governments inGhana. In January 1993, military government gave way to the Fourth Republic after presidential and parliamentary elections in late 1992. The 1992 constitution divides powers among a president, parliament, cabinet, council of state, and an independent judiciary. The government is elected byuniversal suffrage.
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Political parties became legal in mid-1992 after a ten-year hiatus. There are more than 20 registered political parties under the Fourth Republic.[1] The two main parties are theNational Democratic Congress and theNew Patriotic Party. TheNational Democratic Congress is the successor organisation toJerry John Rawlings'Provisional National Defence Council which was in power from 1981 to 1992.[2]
TheNew Patriotic Party, found in 1992, is the successor to the Gold Coast'sThe Big Six independence achiever partyUnited Gold Coast Convention (UGCC); the People's National Convention, and theConvention People's Party, successor toKwame Nkrumah's original party of the same name, which was the incumbent government of Ghana for 10 years from declaration of independence in 1957 to 1966, winning elections in 1956, 1960, and 1965.[2]
The National Democratic Congress won the presidential and parliamentary elections in 1992, 1996, 2008 and 2012. The New Patriotic Party won the presidential and parliamentary elections in 2000, 2004, and 2016.[3] In 2020, the NPP won the Presidency, yet tied in the parliamentary elections with the NDC and the single seat that remained was filled by an independent, turning the NPP into the Fourth Republic’s first minority government. The following election in 2024, the National Democratic Congress managed to return to power, winning both the Presidency and parliament handedly, making their candidate, former PresidentJohn Mahama (2012-2017), the first President to serve a non-consecutive second term.
Since independence, Ghana has been devoted to ideals of nonalignment and is a founding member of thenon-aligned movement. Ghana favors international and regional political and economic co-operation, and is an active member of the United Nations and the African Union.[4]
Many Ghanaian diplomats and politicians hold positions in international organisations. These include Ghanaian diplomat and formerSecretary-General of the United NationsKofi Annan, International Criminal Court JudgeAkua Kuenyehia, former PresidentJerry John Rawlings and former PresidentJohn Agyekum Kuffour who have both served as diplomats of the United Nations.[2]
In September 2010, Ghana's former PresidentJohn Atta Mills visited China on an official visit. Mills and China's former PresidentHu Jintao, marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations, at theGreat Hall of the People on 20 September 2010.[5]China reciprocated with a visit in November 2011, by the vice-chairman of theStanding Committee of the National People's Congress of China,Zhou Tienong who visited Ghana and met with Ghana's PresidentJohn Dramani Mahama.[6]
The legal system is based on the 1992 constitution, customary (traditional) law, and Britishcommon law. Court hierarchy consists ofSupreme Court of Ghana (highest court), courts of appeal, and high courts of justice. Beneath these bodies are circuit, magisterial, and traditional courts. Extrajudicial institutions include public tribunals.[2] Since independence, courts are relatively independent; this independence continues under the Republic. Lower courts are being redefined and reorganized under the Republic.[2]
There are sixteen administrative regions of the Republic of Ghana which are divided into 6 metropolitan assemblies; 55 Municipal assemblies; and 216 districts,[7] each with its own district assembly.[7] Below districts are various types of councils, including 58 town or area councils; 108 zonal councils; and 626 area councils.[7] Over 16,000 unit committees exist on the lowest level.[2] Ghana has 275 electoral constituencies.[7]
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