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
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
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 AnkrahLt. Gen. A.A. Afrifa Head of state 24 February 19663 April 1969 First military intervention in governmentSecond Republic Busia government(Progress Party) Dr. Kofi Busia Prime Minister 1 October 1969 UK-style parliamentary government.13 January 1972 coup National Redemption CouncilSupreme Military Council Gen. I.K. Acheampong Head of state 13 January 19729 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 1979Third Republic Limann government(People's National Party) Dr. Hilla Limann President 24 September 1979 US-style presidential government31 December 1981 coup Provisional National Defence Council Flt. Lt. Jerry Rawlings Head of state 31 December 1981 Rawlings second coupFourth 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 Mahama President 24 July 2012 Akufo-Addo government (New Patriotic Party)Nana Akufo-AddoPresident7 January 2017First opposition leader to win election against a sitting president in Ghana History 2nd Mahama governmentNational Democratic Congress John Mahama President 7 January 2025 1st person to be elected for two separate terms
See also List of Colonial Heads of Ghana Heads of state of Ghana