President of Ghana

President of the Republic of Ghana
Presidential Seal of Ghana
Presidential Standard of Ghana
Incumbent Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo since 7 January 2017
Style	His/Her Excellency
Residence	Jubilee House
Term length	Four years, renewable once
Inaugural holder	Kwame Nkrumah Republic established Jerry Rawlings Current Constitution
Formation	Republic Day 1 July 1960 1992 Constitution 15 May 1992
Deputy	Vice-President of Ghana
Salary	US$76,000 annually[1]
Website	(in English) presidency.gov.gh (in English) ghana.gov.gh

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The president of the Republic of Ghana is the elected head of state and head of government of Ghana, as well as commander-in-chief of the Ghana Armed Forces. The current president of Ghana is Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who won the 2020 presidential election against former president, John Dramani Mahama, by a margin of 4.23%.^[2] He was sworn into office for his second term on 7th of January 2021.^[3]

Eligibility[]

According to Chapter 8, Article 62 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, a person shall not be qualified for election as the president of Ghana unless:

• (a) he/she is a citizen of Ghana by birth
• (b) he/she has attained the age of forty years; and
• (c) he/she is a person who is otherwise qualified to be elected a Member of Parliament, except that the disqualifications set out in paragraphs (c), (d), and (e) of clause (2) of article 94 of this Constitution shall not be removed, in respect of any such person, by a presidential pardon or by the lapse of time as provided for in clause (5) of that article.^[4]

Presidential candidates must lodge a nomination document signed by at least two registered voters in each district, and includes the name of a vice presidential running mate.

The president serves a four-year term. He is limited to two terms, whether successive or separated. If the president dies, resigns, is permanently incapacitated, or is removed from office, the vice president automatically ascends as president for the balance of the term. If the vice president ascends to the presidency before more than half of the presidential term expires, he is only allowed to run for a single full term as president. If both the president and vice president are unable to perform the duties of president, the Speaker of Parliament becomes acting president, and new elections must be held within three months.

Oath of office[]

The president of Ghana must be sworn in by the chief justice before Parliament and the citizens of Ghana. The president-elect must repeat the following:

"I, _______________ having been elected to the high office of President of the Republic of Ghana do (in the name of the Almighty God swear) (solemnly affirm) that I will be faithful and true to the Republic of Ghana; that I will at all times preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana; and that I dedicate myself to the service and well-being of the people of the Republic of Ghana and to do right to all manner of persons.

I further (solemnly swear) (solemnly affirm) that should I at any time break this oath of office; I shall submit myself to the laws of the Republic of Ghana and suffer the penalty for it. (So help me God)".^[5]

Insignia[]

After the oath of office has been taken by the elected president, these following insignia are handed over to the president. These devices are used to display the rank of his/her office and are used on special occasions.

• President's Sword (image) and the Presidential Seat. A carved wooden seat overlaid with gold.

Powers and duties of the president[]

Presidential styles of Nana Akufo-Addo
Reference style	'His Excellency President of the Republic of Ghana"
Spoken style	Your Excellency"
Alternative style	Mr. President

Chapter 8 of the Constitution of Ghana states the duties and the powers of the president. The president is required to:

• uphold the Constitution
• exercise executive authority
• preserve the safety and homeland of Ghana.^[4]

Also, the president is given the powers:

• as the leader of the executive branch of government
• as the commander-in-chief of the military
• to declare war
• to hold referenda regarding issues of national importance
• to issue executive orders
• to issue medals in honor of service for the nation
• to issue pardons
• to declare a state of emergency suspending all laws or enacting a state of martial law.^[4]

The president may execute or cause to be executed treaties, agreements or conventions in the name of the Republic of Ghana.^[4] The president shall take precedence over the populace of the Republic of Ghana and may refer important policy matters to a national referendum, declare war, conclude peace and other treaties, appoint senior public officials, and grant amnesty (with the concurrence of the Parliament of Ghana).^[4] In times of serious internal or external turmoil or threat, or economic or financial crises, the president may assume emergency powers "for the maintenance of national security or public peace and order".^[4]

The president shall be removed from office if he/she is found, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, Chapter 8 section 69 (ii) – prejudicial or inimical to the economy or the security of the Republic of Ghana.^[4] The president shall cease to hold office on the date the Parliament of Ghana decides that he/she be removed from office.^[4]

List of presidents of Ghana (1960–present)[]

Political parties

  Convention People's Party

  People's National Party

  National Democratic Congress

  New Patriotic Party

Other factions

  Military

Symbols

^C Constitutional referendum

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Elected	Term of office			Political party
				Took office	Left office	Time in office
Presidents of the Republic of Ghana (First Republic: 1960–1966)
1		Kwame Nkrumah (1909–1972)	1960 1964[C]	1 July 1960	24 February 1966 (Deposed in a coup d'état)	5 years, 238 days	Convention People's Party
Presidents as Head of State (Second Republic: 1966–1972)
1		Joseph Ankrah (1915–1992) Chairman of the NLC	—	24 February 1966	2 April 1969	3 years, 37 days	Military
2		Akwasi Afrifa (1936–1979) Chairman of the NLC until 3 September 1969, thereafter Chairman of the Presidential Commission	—	2 April 1969	7 August 1970	1 year, 127 days	Military
3		Nii Amaa Ollennu (1906–1986)	—	7 August 1970	31 August 1970	24 days	Independent
4		Edward Akufo-Addo (1906–1979)	—	31 August 1970	13 January 1972 (Deposed in a coup d'état)	1 year, 135 days	Independent
5		Ignatius Kutu Acheampong (1931–1979) Chairman of the NRC until 9 October 1975, thereafter Chairman of the SMC	—	13 January 1972	5 July 1978 (Deposed in a palace coup d'état)	6 years, 173 days	Military
6		Fred Akuffo (1937–1979) Chairman of the SMC	—	5 July 1978	4 June 1979 (Deposed in a coup d'état)	334 days	Military
Presidents as Head of State (Third Republic: 1979–1981)
1		Jerry Rawlings (1947–2020) Chairman of the AFRC	—	4 June 1979	24 September 1979	112 days	Military
2		Hilla Limann (1934–1998)	1979	24 September 1979	31 December 1981 (Deposed in a coup d'état)	2 years, 98 days	People's National Party
3		Jerry Rawlings (1947–2020) Chairman of the PNDC	—	31 December 1981	7 January 1993	11 years, 7 days	Military
Presidents of the Republic of Ghana (Fourth Republic: since 1993)
1		Jerry Rawlings (1947–2020)	1992 1996	7 January 1993	7 January 2001	8 years	National Democratic Congress
2		John Kufuor (born 1938)	2000 2004	7 January 2001	7 January 2009[6]	8 years	New Patriotic Party
3		John Atta Mills (1944–2012)	2008	7 January 2009[6]	24 July 2012[†][7]	3 years, 199 days	National Democratic Congress
4		John Mahama (born 1958)	2012	24 July 2012[8]	7 January 2017[9]	4 years, 166 days	National Democratic Congress
5		Nana Akufo-Addo (born 1944)	2016 2020	7 January 2017[10]	Incumbent	4 years, 229 days	New Patriotic Party

Demographics[]

Head of Government	Ethnicity	Religious affiliation
Kwame Nkrumah	Nzema (Akan)	Roman Catholic (later Nondenominational Christian)[11]
Joseph Ankrah	Ga	Methodist
Akwasi Afrifa	Ashanti (Akan)	Anglican
Nii Amaa Ollennu	Ga	Presbyterian
Edward Akufo-Addo	Akuapem (Akan)	Presbyterian
Kofi Abrefa Busia	Bono (Akan)	Methodist
Ignatius Kutu Acheampong	Ashanti (Akan)	Roman Catholic
Fred Akuffo	Akuapem (Akan)	Presbyterian
Hilla Limann	Sissala	Roman Catholic
Jerry John Rawlings	Scottish/Anlo Ewe	Roman Catholic
John Agyekum Kufuor	Ashanti (Akan)	Roman Catholic
John Atta Mills	Fante (Akan)	Methodist
John Dramani Mahama	Gonja	Assemblies of God (raised Presbyterian)
Nana Akufo-Addo	Akuapem/Akyem (Akan)	Anglican (raised Presbyterian)

Residence[]

Jubilee House
Golden Jubilee House and Presidential Palace
General information
Location	Accra, Ghana
Current tenants	Nana Akufo-Addo

The president of Ghana's official residence was Osu Castle (also known as Fort Christiansborg or Christiansborg Castle) in Accra. In 2007, the opposition MPs in Ghana stormed out of a parliamentary debate on whether to take out a $50m loan to build a new presidential palace. MPs from President John Kufuor's New Patriotic Party voted unanimously in favour of taking the loan from India.^[12]

They argued that the president should not be based in Osu Castle, where slaves used to be kept. The opposition National Democratic Congress said the money would be better spent elsewhere.^[12] The old flagstaff house used by Ghana's first president as a residence is being renovated into a museum, while the grounds on which it stands is being built up as an ultra modern office complex and residence for the president and vice-president of Ghana as well as their staff.^[12] The new presidential palace was expected to be completed by August 2008 but was finally completed in November 2008. At the inauguration of the new presidential palace, President John Kufuor revealed to the press that the new name of the palace would be Golden Jubilee House. The name was chosen in reference to the 50th anniversary of Ghana's Independence.^[12]

Part of the office space has been given to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when it had to be relocated because of a fire that gutted its offices. The NDC government refused to move to the venue after it assumed office in 2009 noting that some of the work in the residency is not completed. The government of President Atta Mills also noted that the National Security establishment Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) wanted to ensure that security at the venue was improved before the government moved in. The name was changed to Flagstaff House by John Atta-Mills in an attempt many see as to cover its link to the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Ghana under the New Patriotic Party. On 7 February 2013, the office of the presidency was finally moved to the Flagstaff House.^[13] The name has been reverted to the Jubilee House.

Transport[]

National transport services for the Ghanaian President are:^[14]

• Limousines
  • Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé (including Ghosts)
  • Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  • Maybach
• Escort cars
  • Bentley
  • Maserati
  • Cadillac Escalade
• Honorary escort (motorcycles)
  • BMW

Air transport services for the Ghanaian President are:^[15]

• Airplanes for long-distance travel
  • Dassault Falcon 900 (long-range) – main jet aircraft
  • Embraer Jet 190 (long-range)
• Helicopters
  • Mil Mi-17

The presidential aircraft uses the colour scheme as the flag of Ghana in stripes, except for the use of the Ghanaian coat of arms on the empennage instead of the flag of Ghana.

In October 2012 a jet aircraft was acquired in the Golden Jubilee House. According to the Chief of the Golden Jubilee House Property Agency acquisition of an Embraer 190 jet aircraft for the president cost 105 million cedis (about US$55 million). The jet aircraft's planned location is in the Ghanaian Presidential Retreat's Peduase Lodge.^[16]

Timeline since 1960[]

Latest election[]

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Nana Akufo Addo	New Patriotic Party	5,755,758	53.72
	John Darmani Mahama	National Democratic Congress	4,771,188	44.53
	Paa Kwesi Nduom	Progressive People's Party	106,092	0.99
	Ivor Greenstreet	Convention People's Party	25,552	0.24
	Edward Mahama	People's National Convention	22,214	0.21
	Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings	National Democratic Party	20,323	0.16
	Jacob Osei Yeboah	Independent	15,911	0.15
Invalid/blank votes			167,349	–
Total			10,881,083	100
Registered voters/turnout			15,719,499	69.25
Source: Electoral Commission of Ghana

President-elect[]

The president-elect of Ghana is the apparent winner, as ascertained by the chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, following the general election on 7 December.

During the period between the presidential election and the inauguration, the outgoing president is a lame duck, while the incoming president heads a presidential transition team to ensure a smooth handover of power. If a sitting president has won re-election, the incumbent is not referred to as a president-elect as he or she is already in office and is not waiting to become president. Likewise, if a vice president succeeds to the presidency by way of the president's death, resignation or removal (via impeachment) from office, that person never holds the title of President-elect, as they would become the president immediately. The most recent president-elect is former Minister of Foreign Affairs Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party, who won the presidential election on 9 December 2016.^[17] He was subsequently re-elected after the presidential election on 9 December 2020.^[18]

The vice president–elect of Ghana is the running mate of presidential candidate who wins an election. First established after the adoption of the 3rd Constitution of Ghana, the inaugural holder is Joseph W.S. deGraft-Johnson. The current vice president–elect of Ghana is Mahamudu Bawumia. Until the formation of the 3rd Republic of Ghana, the position of Vice President did not exist.

List of presidents-elect[]

CPP   PNP   NDC   NPP
President–elect		Party		From	To	Number of days
1	Kwame Nkrumah		CPP	20 April 1960	1 July 1960	72 days
2	Hilla Limann		PNP	9 July 1979	24 September 1979	78 days
3	Jerry John Rawlings		NDC	3 November 1992	7 January 1993	65 days
4	John Agyekum Kufuor		NPP	28 December 2000	7 January 2001	10 days
5	John Atta Mills		NDC	28 December 2008	7 January 2009	10 days
6	John Dramani Mahama		NDC	28 December 2012	7 January 2013	10 days
7	Nana Akufo-Addo		NPP	9 December 2016	7 January 2016	31 days

Prime Minister Kwame Nkrumah became the first Ghanaian to be elected as President of the Republic of Ghana. President Limann holds the record of having the longest transition period from President-elect to president. His transition period lasted 78 days. President Rawlings prior to the presidential elections in 1992, was already head of state of Ghana. He was the chairman of the Provisional National Defence Council. Because Ghana adopted a new constitution in 1992, the position of President of the Republic was vacant. President John Kufuor and President John Atta Mills both hold the record of having the shortest transition period from President-elect to president with both transition period lasting only 10 days. This is both presidents needed a second round of voting (2000, 2008) to win the presidential election.

See also[]

• Chief of Staff (Ghana)

References[]