# Government of Ghana

The Government of Ghana was created as a parliamentary democracy, followed by alternating military and civilian governments in Ghana. In January 1993, military government gave way to the Fourth Republic after presidential and parliamentary elections in late 1992. The 1992 constitution divides powers among a president, parliament, cabinet, council of state, and an independent judiciary. The government is elected by universal suffrage.

## Government

Political parties became legal in mid-1992 after a ten-year hiatus. There are more than 20 registered political parties under the Fourth Republic. The two main parties are the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party. The National Democratic Congress is the successor organisation to Jerry John Rawlings' Provisional National Defence Council which was in power from 1981 to 1992.
The New Patriotic Party, found in 1992, is the successor to the Gold Coast's The Big Six independence achiever party United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC); the People's National Convention, and the Convention People's Party, successor to Kwame Nkrumah's original party of the same name, which was the incumbent government of Ghana for 10 years from declaration of independence in 1957 to 1966, winning elections in 1956, 1960, and 1965.
The National Democratic Congress won the presidential and parliamentary elections in 1992, 1996, 2008 and 2012. The New Patriotic Party won the presidential and parliamentary elections in 2000, 2004, and 2016. In 2020, the NPP won the Presidency, yet tied in the parliamentary elections with the NDC and the single seat that remained was filled by an independent, turning the NPP into the Fourth Republic’s first minority government. The following election in 2024, the National Democratic Congress managed to return to power, winning both the Presidency and parliament handedly, making their candidate, former President John Mahama (2012-2017), the first President to serve a non-consecutive second term.

### Foreign relations

Since independence, Ghana has been devoted to ideals of nonalignment and is a founding member of the non-aligned movement. Ghana favors international and regional political and economic co-operation, and is an active member of the United Nations and the African Union.
Many Ghanaian diplomats and politicians hold positions in international organisations. These include Ghanaian diplomat and former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan, International Criminal Court Judge Akua Kuenyehia, former President Jerry John Rawlings and former President John Agyekum Kuffour who have both served as diplomats of the United Nations.
In September 2010, Ghana's former President John Atta Mills visited China on an official visit. Mills and China's former President Hu Jintao, marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations, at the Great Hall of the People on 20 September 2010. China reciprocated with a visit in November 2011, by the vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, Zhou Tienong who visited Ghana and met with Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama.

### Judicial system

The legal system is based on the 1992 constitution, customary (traditional) law, and British common law. Court hierarchy consists of Supreme Court of Ghana (highest court), courts of appeal, and high courts of justice. Beneath these bodies are circuit, magisterial, and traditional courts. Extrajudicial institutions include public tribunals. Since independence, courts are relatively independent; this independence continues under the Republic. Lower courts are being redefined and reorganized under the Republic.

### Administrative divisions

There are sixteen administrative regions of the Republic of Ghana which are divided into 6 metropolitan assemblies; 55 Municipal assemblies; and 216 districts, each with its own district assembly. Below districts are various types of councils, including 58 town or area councils; 108 zonal councils; and 626 area councils. Over 16,000 unit committees exist on the lowest level. Ghana has 275 electoral constituencies.

### Parliamentary Constituencies of Ghana

Government of Ghana Parliamentary Constituencies of Ghana :
vteConstituencies in AshantiNPP
Adansi-Asokwa
Afigya Kwabre North
Afigya Kwabre South
Afigya Sekyere East
Ahafo Ano South East
Ahafo Ano South West
Asante-Akim Central
Asante-Akim North
Asante-Akim South
Asokwa
Atwima-Kwanwoma
Atwima-Mponua
Atwima-Nwabiagya North
Atwima-Nwabiagya South
Bantama
Bekwai
Bosome-Freho
Bosomtwe
Effiduase-Asokore
Ejisu
Ejura-Sekyedumase
Fomena
Juaben
Kumawu
Kwabre East
Kwadaso
Mampong North
Mampong South
Manso-Adubia
Manso-Nkwanta
Manhyia North
Manhyia South
Nhyiaeso
Nsuta-Kwamang-Beposo
Obuasi East
Obuasi West
Odotobri
Offinso North
Offinso South
Oforikrom
Old Tafo
Suame
Subin
NDC
Ahafo Ano North
Asawase
New Edubease
Sekyere Afram Plain
NPP (43)
NDC (4)
vteConstituencies in the Brong-Ahafo Region of GhanaNDC
Atebubu-Amantin
Jaman North
Kintampo North
Kintampo South
Pru
Sene
Tain
Techiman South
NPP
Asunafo North
Asunafo South
Asutifi North
Berekum
Dormaa East
Dormaa West
Jaman South
Nkoranza North
Nkoranza South
Sunyani East
Sunyani West
Tano North
Tano South
Techiman North
Wenchi
Awaiting election
Asutifi South
NDC (8)
NPP (15)
vteConstituencies in the Central Region of GhanaNDC
Abura-Asebu
Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam
Awutu-Senya
Cape Coast
Effutu
Gomoa East
Gomoa West
Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem
Mfantseman-East
Mfantseman-West
Twifo-Atii Morkwaa
NPP
Agona East
Agona West
Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa
Assin North
Assin South
Hemang Lower Denkyira
Upper Denkyira East
Upper Denkyira West
NDC (11)
NPP (8)
vteConstituencies in the Eastern Region of GhanaNDC
Afram Plains North
Afram Plains South
Asuogyaman
Lower Manya
Upper Manya
Upper West Akim
Yilo Krobo
NPP
Abetifi
Abirem
Abuakwa North
Abuakwa South
Aburi-Nsawam
Akropong
Akim Oda
Akim Swedru
Akwatia
Atiwa
Ayensuano
Fanteakwa
Kade
Lower West Akim
Mpraeso
New Juaben North
New Juaben South
Ofoase-Ayirebi
Okere
Suhum
Independent
Nkawkaw
NDC (7)
NPP (20)
Independent (1)
vteConstituencies in the Greater Accra Region of GhanaNDC
Ablekuma Central
Ablekuma South
Abokobi-Madina
Ada
Adenta
Ashaiman
Ayawaso East
Dade Kotopon
Domeabra-Obom
Korle Klottey
Krowor
Kpone-Katamanso
Ledzokuku
Ningo-Prampram
Odododiodio
Sege
Shai-Osudoku
Trobu-Amasaman
NPP
Ablekuma North
Ayawaso Central
Ayawaso West
Dome-Kwabenya
Okaikwei North
Okaikwei South
Tema East
Tema West
Weija
NDC (18)
NPP (9)
vteConstituencies in the Northern Region of GhanaIndependent
Wulensi
NDC
Bole
Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo
Chereponi
Damango-Daboya
Gushiegu
Karaga
Kpandai
Kumbungu
Mion
Nalerigu
Saboba
Salaga
Savelugu
Sawla-Tuna-Kalba
Tamale Central
Tamale North
Tamale South
Tolon
Walewale
Yagaba-Kubori
Yapei-Kusawgu
Yendi
NPP
Bimbilla
Nanton
Zabzugu-Tatale
Independent (1)
NDC (21)
NPP (4)
vteConstituencies in the Upper East Region of GhanaNDC
Bawku Central
Binduri
Bolgatanga Central
Bolgatanga East
Bongo
Builsa North
Chiana-Paga
Garu
Nabdam
Navrongo Central
Pusiga
Talensi
Tempane
Zebilla
NPP
PNC
Builsa South
NDC (14)
NPP (0)
PNC (1)
vteConstituencies in the Upper West Region of GhanaNDC
Daffiama-Bussie-Issa
Lambussie
Lawra
Nadowli Kaleo
Sissala East
Sissala West
Wa Central
Wa East
Wa West
Independent
Jirapa
NDC (9)
Independent (1)
vteConstituencies in VoltaNDC
Adaklu
Afadjato South
Agotime-Ziope
Akatsi North
Akatsi South
Anlo
Central Tongu
Ho Central
Ho West
Hohoe South
Keta
Ketu North
Ketu South
Kpando
North Dayi
North Tongu
South Dayi
South Tongu
NDC (18)
vteConstituencies in the Western Region of GhanaNDC
Amenfi Central
Amenfi West
Aowin
Bia
Ellembelle
Juabeso
Prestea-Huni Valley
Sefwi Akontombra
Sefwi-Wiawso
Shama
Suaman
NPP
Ahanta West
Amenfi East
Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai
Effia-Kwesimintsim
Essikado-Ketan
Evalue Gwira
Mpohor-Wassa East
Sekondi
Takoradi
Tarkwa-Nsuaem
CPP
Jomoro
NDC (11)
NPP (10)
CPP (1) :