Ghana

Our Government

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 multi-party system.

The seat of government is at Osu Castle. The government exercises executive power. Legislative power is vested in both the government and Parliament. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.

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 power sharing.

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. 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. The arms of Government are: The Executive, The Legislature and  Judiciary.

The Executive

The power of the Executive Branch is vested in the President of the Republic of Ghana, who also acts as head of state and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The President is responsible for implementing and enforcing the laws written by Parliament and, to that end, appoints ministers, including the Cabinet. The Vice President is also part of the Executive Branch, ready to assume the Presidency should the need arise.

The Cabinet and independent departments and agencies are responsible for the day-to-day enforcement and administration of laws and order. These departments and agencies have missions and responsibilities as widely divergent as those of the Ministry of Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency, Social...