List of Ghana governments

This is a list of the governments of Ghana. Prior to independence, Ghana was under colonial rule in various forms including direct or indirect British rule. On February 12, 1951, the first Ghanaian government or cabinet, dominated by native Ghanaians was formed in the run up to independence on March 6, 1957. since then, Ghana has had a mix of democratically elected governments as well as military ones. It has had a one party state status between 1964 and 1966 while some of the military governments have had extensive civilian involvement such as the Provisional National Defence Council governments.

Governments of Ghana before independence

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Party Leader Title Start date Notes
Committee of Merchants various Governor of the Committee of Merchants 23 June 1751 Start date of earliest governor available.
various Governor 27 March 1822
Crown colony under Sierra Leone
various Governor 27 March 1843
Crown colony under direct British rule
various Governor 4 March 1874
Convention People's Party Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Leader of Government Business 12 February 1951 Nkrumah was released from prison to head this government

Governments of Ghana since independence

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Party Leader Title Start date Notes
Nkrumah government
(Convention People's Party)
Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Prime Minister March 6, 1957 UK-style parliamentary government. First government after independence.
First Republic
Nkrumah government
(Convention People's Party)
Dr. Kwame Nkrumah President 1 July 1960 Started as UK-style parliamentary government and ended as one party state between 1964 and 1966.
24 February 1966 coup d'état
National Liberation Council Joseph Arthur Ankrah
Lt. Gen. A.A. Afrifa
Head of state 24 February 1966
3 April 1969
First military intervention in government
Second Republic
Busia government
(Progress Party)
Dr. Kofi Busia Prime Minister 1 October 1969 Germany-style parliamentary government.
13 January 1972 coup
National Redemption Council
Supreme Military Council
Gen. I.K. Acheampong Head of state 13 January 1972
9 October 1975
Gen. Acheampong was removed in a bloodless palace coup.
Supreme Military Council Lt. Gen. Fred W.K. Akuffo Head of state 5 July 1978
4 June 1979 coup
Armed Forces Revolutionary Council Flt. Lt. Jerry Rawlings Head of state 4 June 1979 Coup / military revolt by junior ranks of the Ghana Armed Forces after a failed attempt by Rawlings on 15 May 1979
Third Republic
Limann government
(People's National Party)
Dr. Hilla Limann President 24 September 1979 US-style presidential government
31 December 1981 coup
Provisional National Defence Council Flt. Lt. Jerry Rawlings Head of state 31 December 1981 Rawlings second coup
Fourth Republic
Rawlings government
(National Democratic Congress)
Jerry John Rawlings President 7 January 1993 Rawlings resigned from the military to stand elections
Kufuor government
(New Patriotic Party)
John Agyekum Kufuor President 7 January 2001 First change of government through elections in Ghana
Mills government
(National Democratic Congress)
John Atta Mills President 7 January 2009 Died in office
Mahama government
(National Democratic Congress)
John Dramani Mahama President 24 July 2012
Akufo-Addo government

(New Patriotic Party)

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo President 7 January 2017 First opposition leader to win election against a sitting president in Ghana History

See also

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