Wikipedia

List of heads of state of Ghana

This is a list of the heads of state of Ghana, from the independence of Ghana in 1957 to the present day.[1]

From 1957 to 1960 the head of state under the Constitution of 1957 was the queen of Ghana, Elizabeth II, who was also the monarch of other Commonwealth realms.[2] The monarch was represented in Ghana by a governor-general.[3] Ghana became a republic within the Commonwealth under the Constitution of 1960 and the monarch and governor-general were replaced by an executive president.[4]

Monarch (1957–1960)

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The succession to the throne was the same as the succession to the British throne.

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Reign Royal House Prime minister
Reign start Reign end Duration
1   Queen Elizabeth II
(1926–2022) 		6 March 1957 1 July 1960 3 years, 117 days Windsor Nkrumah

Governor-general

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The governor-general was the representative of the monarch in Ghana and exercised most of the powers of the monarch.[5] The governor-general was appointed for an indefinite term, serving at the pleasure of the monarch. Since Ghana was granted independence by the Ghana Independence Act 1957, rather than being first established as a semi-autonomous Dominion and later promoted to independence by the Statute of Westminster 1931,[6] the governor-general was to be always appointed solely on the advice of the Cabinet of Ghana without the involvement of the British government, with the sole exception of Charles Arden-Clarke, the former colonial governor, who served as governor-general temporarily until he was replaced by William Hare.[7] In the event of a vacancy the chief justice served as officer administering the government.[8]

Status
  Denotes Chief Justice acting as Officer Administering the Government
No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Term of office Monarch Prime minister
Took office Left office Time in office
1   Sir Charles Arden-Clarke
(1898–1962) 		6 March 1957 14 May 1957 69 days Elizabeth II Nkrumah
—   Sir Kobina Arku Korsah
(1894–1967) 		14 May 1957 13 November 1957 183 days
2   The Earl of Listowel
(1906–1997) 		13 November 1957 1 July 1960 2 years, 231 days

Republic (1960–present)

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Political parties
  Convention People's Party (CPP)
  People's National Party (PNP)
  National Democratic Congress (NDC)
  New Patriotic Party (NPP)
Other factions
  Military
  Independent
Status
  Denotes acting president
Symbols

C Constitutional referendum

† Died in office

First Republic (1960–1966)

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Under the Constitution of 1960, the first constitution of the Republic of Ghana, the president replaced the monarch as executive head of state.[9] The president was elected by Parliament for a 5-year term. In the event of a vacancy three members of the Cabinet served jointly as acting president.

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Elected Term of office Political party
Took office Left office Time in office
1   Kwame Nkrumah
(1909–1972) 		1960
1964[C] 		1 July 1960 24 February 1966
(Deposed in a coup) 		5 years, 238 days CPP

Military rule (1966–1969)

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Lieutenant-General Joseph Arthur Ankrah led a coup d'état which overthrew President Nkrumah and his government, all political parties and Parliament were also dissolved.

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Term of office Political party
Took office Left office Time in office
2   Lieutenant-General Joseph Arthur Ankrah
(1915–1992)
Chairman of the NLC 		24 February 1966 2 April 1969
(Resigned) 		3 years, 37 days Military
3   Brigadier Akwasi Afrifa
(1936–1979)
Chairman of the NLC 		2 April 1969 3 September 1969 154 days

Second Republic (1969–1972)

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No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Elected Term of office Political party Prime minister
Took office Left office Time in office
(3)   Brigadier Akwasi Afrifa
(1936–1979)
Chairman of the Presidential Commission 		— 3 September 1969 7 August 1970 338 days Military Busia
—   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) 		1 year, 135 days Independent

Military rule (1972–1979)

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General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong led a coup d'état which overthrew President Akufo-Addo, Prime Minister Abrefa Busia and his government, all political parties, and Parliament were also dissolved.[10]

Lieutenant General Fred Akuffo led a palace coup which overthrew General Acheampong,[11] then Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings led a coup d'état which overthrown the Supreme Military Council.[12]

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Term of office Political party
Took office Left office Time in office
5   General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong
(1931–1979)
Chairman of the NRC 		13 January 1972 5 July 1978
(Deposed in a coup) 		6 years, 173 days Military
Chairman of the SMC
from 9 October 1975
6   Lieutenant-General Fred Akuffo
(1937–1979)
Chairman of the SMC 		5 July 1978 4 June 1979
(Deposed in a coup) 		334 days
7   Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings
(1947–2020)
Chairman of the AFRC 		4 June 1979 24 September 1979 112 days

Third Republic (1979–1981)[13]

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Under the Constitution of 1979 the president was head of both state and government. The president was directly elected and served a four-year term that expired at the next general election; a president might serve a maximum of two terms.[14] In the event of a vacancy the vice-president served as acting president.[13]

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Elected Term of office Political party
Took office Left office Time in office
8   Hilla Limann
(1934–1998) 		1979 24 September 1979 31 December 1981
(Deposed in a coup) 		2 years, 98 days PNP

Military rule (1981–1993)

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Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings led a coup d'état which overthrew President Limann and his government, all political parties and Parliament were also dissolved.[15][16]

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Term of office Political party
Took office Left office Time in office
(7)   Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings
(1947–2020)
Chairman of the PNDC 		31 December 1981 7 January 1993 11 years, 7 days Military

Fourth Republic (1993–present)

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Under the current Constitution the president is head of both state and government.[13][17] The president is directly elected and serves a four-year term that expires at the next general election; a president may serve a maximum of two terms. In the event of a vacancy, the vice-president serves the remaining time as the president.[18]

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Elected Term of office Political party
Took office Left office Time in office
(7)   Jerry Rawlings
(1947–2020) 		1992
1996 		7 January 1993 7 January 2001 8 years NDC
9   John Kufuor
(born 1938) 		2000
2004 		7 January 2001 7 January 2009 8 years NPP
10   John Atta Mills
(1944–2012) 		2008 7 January 2009 24 July 2012[†] 3 years, 199 days NDC
11   John Mahama
(born 1958) 		2012 24 July 2012 7 January 2017 4 years, 167 days NDC
12   Nana Akufo-Addo
(born 1944) 		2016
2020 		7 January 2017 Incumbent 7 years, 351 days NPP
(11)   John Mahama
(born 1958) 		2024 7 January 2025 −15 days NDC

Timeline since 1960

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Nana Akufo-AddoJohn MahamaJohn Atta MillsJohn KufuorHilla LimannJerry RawlingsFred AkuffoIgnatius Kutu AcheampongEdward Akufo-AddoNii Amaa OllennuAkwasi AfrifaJoseph Arthur AnkrahKwame Nkrumah

Term of office in years

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This is a list of each head of state in order of term length.

Of the 12 post monarchy heads of state, only Jerry Rawlings, served in two non consecutive periods.

Rank Head of State Political party Longest continuous term Total time in office Periods Cause of end of term
1 Jerry Rawlings Military/National Democratic Congress 19 years, 7 days 19 years, 119 days 2 Resignation/Natural expiration
2 John Kufuor New Patriotic Party 8 years, 0 days 8 years, 0 days 1 Natural expiration
3 Nana Akufo-Addo New Patriotic Party 7 years, 351 days 7 years, 351 days 1 In office
4 Ignatius Kutu Acheampong Military 6 years, 173 days 6 years, 173 days 1 Deposed
5 Kwame Nkrumah Convention People's Party 5 years, 238 days 5 years, 238 days 1 Deposed
6 John Mahama National Democratic Congress 4 years, 167 days 4 years, 167 days 1 Natural expiration
7 John Atta Mills National Democratic Congress 3 years, 199 days 3 years, 199 days 1 Death
8 Joseph Arthur Ankrah Military 3 years, 37 days 3 years, 37 days 1 Resignation
9 Hilla Limann People's National Party 2 years, 98 days 2 years, 98 days 1 Deposed
10 Edward Akufo-Addo Independent 1 year, 135 days 1 year, 135 days 1 Deposed
11 Akwasi Afrifa Military 1 year, 127 days 1 year, 127 days 1
12 Fred Akuffo Military 334 days 334 days 1 Deposed
– Nii Amaa Ollennu Independent 24 days 24 days 1

Demographics

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Head of state Ethnicity Religious affiliation
Kwame Nkrumah Nzema (Akan) Roman Catholic (later Nondenominational Christian)[19]
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)

Standards

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  •  
    Governor-General's standard
  •  
    Presidential standard

References

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  1. ^ "Independence, Coups, and the Republic, 1957–present", The Ghana Reader, Duke University Press, pp. 299–300, 2016, doi:10.1215/9780822374961-060, ISBN 978-0-8223-7496-1
  2. ^ "Magnum Photos". pro.magnumphotos.com. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  3. ^ "Magnum Photos". pro.magnumphotos.com. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  4. ^ "Ghana – INDEPENDENT GHANA". countrystudies.us. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  5. ^ Vandrei, Martha (19 July 2018). "That ubiquitous monarch". Oxford Scholarship Online. doi:10.1093/oso/9780198816720.003.0007.
  6. ^ Ibingira, Grace Stuart (30 April 2019), "Ghana", African Upheavals Since Independence, Routledge, pp. 51–59, doi:10.4324/9780429052002-4, ISBN 978-0-429-05200-2, S2CID 240905963
  7. ^ "Lewis, Sir Allen (Montgomery), (26 Oct. 1909–18 Feb. 1993), Governor-General of St Lucia, 1982–87 (first Governor-General, 1979–80; Governor, 1974–79)", Who Was Who, Oxford University Press, 1 December 2007, doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u173811
  8. ^ Prempeh, H. Kwasi (30 July 2013). "Constitutional autochthony and the invention and survival of "absolute presidentialism" in postcolonial Africa". Order from Transfer: 209–234. doi:10.4337/9781781952115.00020. ISBN 9781781952115.
  9. ^ Todd E, Pettys (9 February 2018). "Part Two The Iowa Constitution and Commentary, Art.IV Executive Department". The Iowa State Constitution. doi:10.1093/law/9780190490836.003.0007.
  10. ^ "Busia, Dr. Kofi Abrefa, (11 July 1913–28 Aug. 1978), Prime Minister of Ghana, 1969–72", Who Was Who, Oxford University Press, 1 December 2007, doi:10.1093/WW/9780199540884.013.u152838
  11. ^ Rich, Jeremy (8 December 2011), "Akuffo, Fred", African American Studies Center, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/acref/9780195301731.013.48197, ISBN 978-0-19-530173-1
  12. ^ Shillington, Kevin. (1992). Ghana and the Rawlings factor. Macmillan. ISBN 0-333-56845-1. OCLC 28182404.
  13. ^ a b c Nketia, J.H. Kwabena (2001), Ghana, Republic of, Oxford Music Online, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.11009
  14. ^ Yankson-Mensah, Marian. (2020). Transitional justice in Ghana an appraisal of the National Reconciliation Commission. T.M.C. Asser Press. ISBN 978-94-6265-379-5. OCLC 1151190908.
  15. ^ Gyimah-Boadi, E. (1993). Ghana under the PNDC rule. CODESRIA. ISBN 2-86978-018-4. OCLC 475366719.
  16. ^ Isaacs, Anita (1993), "Development and Reform under Military Rule", Military Rule and Transition in Ecuador, 1972–92, Palgrave Macmillan UK, pp. 35–65, doi:10.1007/978-1-349-08922-2_3, ISBN 978-1-349-08924-6
  17. ^ "Ghana - Constitution & Politics". doi:10.1163/2213-2996_flg_com_081034. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  18. ^ "Ghana - Constitution & Politics". doi:10.1163/2213-2996_flg_com_081034. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  19. ^ Miller, Jon (22 May 2014). Missionary Zeal and Institutional Control: Organizational Contradictions in the Basel Mission on the Gold Coast 1828-1917. Routledge. p. 30. ISBN 978-1-136-87625-7.
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