The Government of Ghana: An Overview

[These materials have been adapted from the section on Ghana in the 2000 CIA World Factbook.]

Country name

  • conventional long form: Republic of Ghana
  • conventional short form: Ghana
  • former: Gold Coast
  • data code: GH

Basic Information

  • Government type: constitutional democracy
  • Constitution: new constitution approved 28 April 1992
  • Capital: Accra
  • Independence: 6 March 1957 (from UK)
  • National holiday: Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
  • Legal system: based on English common law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
  • Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Administrative Divisions

10 regions: Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western

Executive branch

  • chief of state and head of government: President Jerry John RAWLINGS (since 7 January 1993); Vice President John Evans Atta MILLS (since 7 January 1993); 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 1996 (next to be held NA December 2000)
  • election results: Jerry John RAWLINGS reelected president; percent of vote -- RAWLINGS 57.2%, John KUFUOR 39.8%

Flag description: 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

Legislative branch

  • form: unicameral Parliament (200 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
  • elections: last held 7 December 1996 (next to be held NA December 2000)
  • election results: percent of vote by party -- NA; seats by party -- NDC 133, NPP 61, PCP 5, PNC 1

Judicial branch

  • Supreme Court

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNTAET, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

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