Ghana: Government#
| Country name | conventional long form: Republic of Ghana conventional short form: Ghana former: Gold Coast etymology: named for the medieval West African kingdom of the same name, but whose location was actually further north than the modern country |
|---|---|
| Government type | presidential republic |
| Capital | Accra
Accra
geographic coordinates: 5 33 N, 0 13 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) |
| Administrative divisions | 10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western |
| Independence | 6 March 1957 (from the UK) |
| National holiday | Independence Day, 6 March (1957) |
| Constitution | several previous; latest drafted 31 March 1992, approved and promulgated 28 April 1992, entered into force 7 January 1993; amended 1996 (2016) |
| Legal system | mixed system of English common law and customary law |
| International law organization participation | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| Citizenship | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent or grandparent must be a citizen of Ghana dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years |
| Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch | chief of state: President Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO (since 7 January 2017); Vice President Mahamudu BAWUMIA (NPP) (since 7 January 2017); the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO (since 7 January 2017); Vice President Mahamudu BAWUMIA (NPP) (since 7 January 2017) cabinet: Council of Ministers; nominated by the president, approved by Parliament elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 7 December 2016 (next to be held in December 2020) election results: Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO elected president; percent of vote - Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO (NPP) 54.1%, John Dramani MAHAMA (NDC) 44.0%, other 1.8%; note - results after 267 of 275 constituencies declared |
| Legislative branch | description: unicameral Parliament (275 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 7 December 2016 (next to be held in December 2020) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDC 148, NPP 123, PNC 1, independent 3 |
| Judicial branch | highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of a chief justice and 12 justices) judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the president in consultation with the Council of State (a small advisory body of prominent citizens) and with the approval of Parliament; other justices appointed by the president upon the advice of the Judicial Council (an 18-member independent body of judicial, military and police officials, and presidential nominees) and on the advice of the Council of State; justices can retire at age 60, with compulsory retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; Circuit Court; District Court; regional tribunals |
| Political parties and leaders | Convention People's Party or CPP (Samia NKRUMAH) National Democratic Congress or NDC (John Dramani MAHAMA) New Patriotic Party or NPP (Nana AFUKO-ADDO) People's National Convention or PNC (Hassan AYARIGA) note: listed are four of the more popular political parties as of December 2012; there are more than 20 registered parties |
| Political pressure groups and leaders | Christian Aid (water rights) Committee for Joint Action or CJA (social and economic issues) National Coalition Against the Privatization of Water or CAP (water rights) Oxfam (water rights) Public Citizen (water rights) Students Coalition Against EPA (Kwabena Ososukene OKAI) (education reform) Third World Network (social and economic issues) |
| International organization participation | ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Lt. Gen. Joseph Henry SMITH (since September 2014) chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (1) (202) 686-4520 FAX: (1) (202) 686-4527 consulate(s) general: New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Robert P. JACKSON (since 4 February 2016) embassy: 24 Fourth Circular Rd., Cantonments, Accra mailing address: P.O. Box 194, Accra telephone: (233) 030-274-1000 FAX: (233) 030-274-1389 |
| Flag description | three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green, with a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; red symbolizes the blood shed for independence, yellow represents the country's mineral wealth, while green stands for its forests and natural wealth; the black star is said to be the lodestar of African freedom note: 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 |
| National symbol(s) | black star, golden eagle; national colors: red, yellow, green, black |
| National anthem | name: "God Bless Our Homeland Ghana" lyrics/music: unknown/Philip GBEHO note: music adopted 1957, lyrics adopted 1966; the lyrics were changed twice, in 1960 when a republic was declared and after a 1966 coup |