Government and Politics

Government and Politics of Ghana

Government structure, leadership, capital, military, and national symbols of Ghana.

Government Structure

Constitutional foundations, branches, parties, and leadership.

Government Type: constitutional democracy
Administrative Divisions: 10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western
Legal System: based on English common law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Citizenship: Citizenship by birth: No Citizenship by descent only: At least one parent or grandparent must be a citizen of Ghana Dual citizenship recognized: Yes Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Executive Branch: chief of state: President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 7 January 2025); Vice President Jane NAANA OPOKU AGYEMANG (since 7 January 2025); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 7 January 2025); Vice President Jane NAANA OPOKU AGYEMANG (since 7 January 2025); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers; president nominates members subject to approval by Parliament elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 7 December 2024 (next to be held December 2028) election results: John Dramani MAHAMA elected president; percent of vote - John Dramani MAHAMA (NDC) 56.6%, Mahamudu BAWUMIA (NPP) 41.6%
Legislative Branch: Unicameral Parliament (275 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms) Elections: last held on 7 December 2024 (next to be held December 2028) Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDC 183, NPP 88, independent 4
Judicial Branch: Supreme Court
Political Parties: Convention People's Party or CPP [Nii Noi DOWUONA, general secretary]; Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere or EGLE [Owuraku AMOFA, chairman]; Great Consolidated Popular Party or GCPP [Dan LARTY]; National Convention Party or NCP [Sarpong KUMA-KUMA]; National Democratic Congress or NDC [Dr. Huudu YAHAYA, general secretary]; New Patriotic Party or NPP [Samuel Arthur ODOI-SYKES]; People's Convention Party or PCP [P. K. DONKOH-AYIFI, acting chairman]; People's Heritage Party or PHP [Emmanuel Alexander ERSKINE]; People's National Convention or PNC [Edward MAHAMA]; Reform Party [Kyeretwie OPUKU, general secretary]
Head of State: President John Dramani MAHAMA
Head of Government: President John Dramani MAHAMA
Cabinet: Council of Ministers; president nominates members subject to approval by Parliament
Elections: last held on 7 December 2024 (next to be held December 2028)
Election Results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDC 183, NPP 88, independent 4
Constitution: approved 28 April 1992
Independence: 6 March 1957 (from UK)
National Holiday: Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
International Organization Participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.: chief of mission: Ambassador Fritz Kwabena POKU chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 686-4520 FAX: [1] (202) 686-4527 consulate(s) general: New York
U.S. Diplomatic Representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Carlin YATES embassy: 6th and 10th Lanes, 798/1 Osu, Accra mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra telephone: [233] (21) 775-347, 775-348 FAX: [233] (21) 701-813

Capital City

Seat of government and political history.

Capital City: Accra
Location: 5 33 N, 0 13 W
Time Difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
History: The name derives from the Akan word "nkran" meaning "ants," and refers to the numerous anthills in the area around the capital

Embassy and Diplomatic Representation

Embassy location and contact details.

Embassy Accra Address: The U.S. Embassy is located at No. 24 Fourth Circular Road, Cantonments, Accra. Telephone: (233)-(030) 274-1000 Emergency after-hours telephone: (233)-(030) 274-1775 Facsimile: (233)-(030) 274-1362 or 274-1426

Military

Branches, service obligations, expenditures, and manpower.

Military Branches: Ghana Army, Ghana Navy, Ghana Air Force
Service Age and Obligation: 18-26 years of age for voluntary military service, with basic education certificate; no conscription; must be HIV/AIDS negative

National Symbols

Flag, anthem, and other symbols of national identity.

National Flag

Flag Symbolism: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band
Flag History: Ghana was the first country in black Africa to use the Ethiopian colors, which has since been called pan-African. The black star symbolizes the lodestar of African freedom. The red commemorates those who worked for independence, the gold(yellow) represents the wealth of the country (its former name was the Gold Coast) and the green stands for forests and farms.
Date of Adoption: 28 February 1966

National Anthem

Anthem Lyrics (English): God bless our homeland Ghana, And make our nation great and strong, Bold to defend forever The cause of Freedom and of Right. Fill our hearts with true humility Make us cherish fearless honesty, And help us to resist oppressors' rule With all our will and might evermore. Hail to thy name, O Ghana To thee we make our solemn vow; Steadfast to build together A nation strong in Unity; With our gifts of mind and strength of arm, Whether night or day, in the midst of storm, In every need whate'er the call may be, To serve thee, Ghana, now and evermore. Raise high the flag of Ghana, And one with Africa advance; Black star of hope and honor, To all who thirst for liberty; Where the banner of Ghana free flies, May the way to freedom truly lie Arise, arise, O sons of Ghanaland, And under God march on forevermore.

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