A highly accessible, easy to use app version of the constitution of ghana the supreme law of the republic of ghana. Creating the third republic ghana, a living history. Sep 18, 2018 the constitution of the republic of the republic of ghana 1992 1. The following is the text of the 1960 ghana constitution, the first constitution of the country after it became an independent. In particular we would like us to consider ceding the power of appointment to our chiefs and traditional authorities as was the case under the 1969 second republican and 1979 third republican constitutions. In the united states of america usa, for example, they operate side by side and reinforce each other. The second republican constitution of 1969 was abrogated through a military coup on january 1972. Whereas the said draft constitution was submitted to a national referendum held throughout ghana on the 28th april, 1992. The second republican 1969 constitution reverted ghana to a westminsterstyle government, with a prime minister as head of government and a nonexecutive president as head of state. The second republican 1969 constitution reverted ghana to a westminster style. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Selected bibliography of ghanaian secondary materials.
The current president of ghana is nana akufoaddo, who won the 2016 presidential election against the incumbent, john dramani mahama, by a margin of 9. S ep t em b 1er, 979 printing of constitution, constituent assembly dissolved. Amendments to the constitution in 1960 transformed ghana into a republic under a. In 2003, the electoral commissioner ec created 30 new constituencies, bringing. Presidents of ghana since independence from britain. Every person who, on the coming into force of this constitution, is a citizen of ghana bylaw shall continue to be a citizen of ghana. 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 two party system.
Constitution of ghana wikisource, the free online library. As has been argued by gyampo and graham 2014, ghana. The second republican government was also overthrown in a coup detat on january, 1972, after only 27 months in office. Ascertain from the people of ghana their views on the operation of the 1992 fourth republican constitution and, in particular, the strengths and weaknesses of the constitution. This was the first parliamentary election since the 1966 coup by the national liberation council which toppled the nkrumah government the election was to select members for the 140 seat legislative body.
Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. The evolution of ghana law since independence william burnett haivey introduction on march 6, 1957, the british gold coast achieved independence in circumstances that apparently offered a bright future for sovereign, independent ghana. The constitution of the republic of the republic of ghana 1992 1. The ghanaian parliamentary election was held on 29 august 1969. Since then parliament was in abeyance until september 24, 1979 when parliamentary democracy was again restored. It defines the fundamental political principles, establishing the structure, procedures, powers and duties of the government, structure of the judiciary and legislature, and spells out the fundamental rights and duties of citizens. Act 527 constitution of the republic of ghana amendment act, 1996. Between the independence constitution of 1957 and the republican constitution.
Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. This is something our chiefs and traditional authorities. Under the 1946 bums constitution which replaced the guggisberg constitution, the representatives of the people formed the majority in the legislative. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. The constitution shall come into force oll the 24th day of ment constitutionor. Since the first republican constitution in 1960, ghana has had three other constitutions.
Ghanas government returned to civilian authority under the second republic in october 1969 after a parliamentary election in which the progress party, led by kofi a. The sovereign state of ghana is a unitary republic consisting of those territories. This pattern of alternation between civilian and military rule continued unabated until the dawn of the fourth republic, which began. This was a key theme in the early history of ghana s independence. These two principles of limiting governmental powers are not mutually exclusive. The african ejournals project has digitized full text of. The president and vicepresident are elected directly by an absolute majority of the popular vote and serve as both head of state and head of government in ghana. This was the first parliamentary election since the 1966 coup by the national liberation council which toppled the nkrumah government. Constitutional hybridity and constitutionalism in ghana. The second republican constitution of ghana in searchworks. Raymond atuguba on why we must eat the ghana constitution. Section 5offences and penalties 1 a person who contravenes section 4 commits an offence and is liable on summary.
The 1955 transitional constitution provided for an assembly of a speaker and 104 members elected on party lines on the basis of universal adult suffrage. The second republican 1969 constitution reverted ghana to a westminsterstyle. Modern ghana, formerly know as the gold coast, was the first. The economy seemed to be good and promising as ghana was rich with gemstones, forests and crops. Aug 31, 1970 ghanas government returned to civilian authority under the second republic in october 1969 after a parliamentary election in which the progress party, led by kofi a. The situation in ghana inspired nationalist movements all over the continent.
The 1969 constitution of the second republic of ghana reintroduced multipartydemocracy in ghana with a more. The second constitution was the 1969 constitution under dr. Get free research paper on an analysis of the legal rights of the niger delta states in relation to ownership and control of mineral resources under nigerian research project topics and materials in nigeria. Scholars, practitioners, and the international community have hailed the. Based on information from ghana, the constitution of the republic of ghana, accra, 1992. Kofi abrefa busia, the leader of the progress party which won 105 of the 140 seats became the prime minister of ghana. Under the 1969 constitution the prime minister and his ministers were members of parliament. In some african countries, including ghana in 1969, 1979, and 1992, where the principle of. While few members of the house were able to express the concerns of the electorate andmade attempts to check the activities of the executive, the majority of them tended to agreeto whatever policies and programs the executive initiated. Since 195i, adroit leaders of a wellorganized political party had operated a responsible. However, this transition was shortlived when on the th of january 1972, the military again overthrew the government and suspended the constitution. This was the first parliamentary election since the 1966 coup by the national liberation.
The constitution of the republic has placed too much power on the president to the point that heshe cannot be checked by other institutions. Until mid1970, a presidential commission led by brigadier a. The constitutional history of the number of constituencies. August 29, and september 2 and 3, 1969 characteristics of parliament the parliament of ghana consists of one house, the national assembly, whose 140 members are elected for a period of 5 years. The earlier constitutions can be located in the historic constitutions volume of constitutions of countries of the world. It may also mean the direct means which law is made or comes into existence legal source for example legislation and judicial precedents. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Note that this syllabus is for both internal and external candidates download government syllabus pdf here view government waec syllabus as text below. Oct 14, 2019 the three colors of the flag red, green, and black and the black star in the middle are all symbolic of the panafricanist movement. Under the 1969 second republican constitution, an attempt was made by the framers to. Under this arrangement the governor still retained complete control of legislation. The first took place on 24 february 1966 with the overthrow of the 1960 first republican constitution. After a constitution was drafted for the second republic, elections were held in 1969.
Browse and navigate ghana constitution in easy, natural real time and advanced. A brief history of ghana since independence share flipboard email print. At the same time, the afrc accepted, with a few amendments, the draft constitution that had been submitted. This online research paper is approved and well researched for final year students and under graduates in accountancy, business administration, computer science, economics. The constitution of ghana is the supreme law of the republic of ghana. Under the 1969 second republican constitution, an attempt was made by the. The president of the republic of ghana is the elected head of state and head of government of ghana, as well as commanderinchief of the ghana armed forces. Below is the 1992 constitution of the republic of ghana, arranged by chapters. Understanding the powers of ghanas weak parliament. The speaker, elected by the assembly, can be one of its members or someone from outside the parlia. Pdf article 3 of the fourth republican constitution of ghana makes it a treasonable. Ghanas 1992 constitution is a hybrid arrangement that combines some features of. Nana akufoaddo was sworn into office on 7 january 2017. The 1992 constitution of the republic of ghana that came into effect on january 7, 1993, provides the basic charter for the countrys fourth attempt at republican democratic government since independence in 1957.
The first legislative council elections ever to be held took place in 1925 under the guggisberg constitution. Ascertain from the people of ghana their views on the operation of the 1992 fourth republican constitution and, in particular, the strengths and weaknesses of. Pdf constitutional hybridity and constitutionalism in ghana. See also egon schwelb, the republican constitution of ghana for a discussion of both the 1957 and 1960 constitutions of ghana. Second schedule oaths the constitution of the republic of ghana.
Parliament of ghana a historical background of the. Amendments to the constitution in 1960 transformed ghana into a republic under a president and set up one party state. The 1992 constitution of the republic of ghana that came into effect on january 7, 1993, provides the basic charter for the countrys fourth attempt at republican democratic government since independence in. Constitution of the fourth republic of ghana promulgation law, 1992 pndcl 282 as amended by constitution of the republic of ghana amendment act, 1996 act 527. In 1957 when ghana achieved full political independence, the constitution was fashioned after the westminster model. Sep 24, 1979 at the same time, the afrc accepted, with a few amendments, the draft constitution that had been submitted. Supremacy of the constitution 1 the sovereignty of ghana resides in the people of ghana in whose name and for whose welfare the powers of government are to be exercised in the manner and within the limits laid down in this constitution. Ghana s government returned to civilian authority under the second republic in october 1969 after a parliamentary election in which the progress party, led by kofi a. Pdf the right of resistance and the defence of ghanas fourth.
Where, on the twentysecond day of august 1969, any person not being a citizen of ghana had a. This constitution shall be the supreme law of ghana and any other law found to be inconsistent with. And whereas the people of ghana approved the said constitution for the administration of ghana to come into force on 7th day of january, 1993. Cede power to appoint district assembly members to chiefs. It was approved on 28 april 1992 through a national referendum after 92% support. Ghanas democracy from the perspective of the citizenry ransford osafodanso. Ghana constitution 1960 preliminary note by francis bennion the following is the text of the 1960 ghana constitution, the first constitution of the country after it became an independent republic by virtue of the ghana independence act 1957. The evolution of ghana law since independence william burnett haivey introduction on march 6, 1957, the british gold coast achieved independence in circum.
Note that this syllabus is for both internal and external candidates download government syllabus pdf here view government waec syllabus as text below west african senior school certificate examination government preamble this syllabus aims at assessing the candidates ability to a define the concept of government and. This is something our chiefs and traditional authorities have been demanding since we entered the fourth republic. For the avoidance of any doubts the constitution of the second republic of ghana, 1969, banished. Constitution of the third repubuc of ghana promulgation decree, 1979 2 the said constitution shall have the force of jaw. Ghana was also the leading cocoa exporter in the world and produced one tenth of the worlds gold. Ghanas constitution of 1992 with amendments through 1996. Sources of ghana law meaning of sources of law the term sources of law may have several meanings firstly it may mean that which gives the law its formal validity formal source, for example the constitution. First republican constitution of 1960, the second republican constitution of.
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