This is a list of the heads of state of Ghana, from the independence of Ghana in 1957 to the present day.
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. The monarch was represented in Ghana by a governor-general. Ghana became a republic within the Commonwealth under the Constitution of 1960 and the monarch and governor-general were replaced by an executive president.
Monarch (1957–1960) The succession to the throne was the same as the succession to the British throne.
PortraitNameReignRoyal HousePrime minister Reign start Reign end Duration 1 Queen Elizabeth II 1957 1960 Windsor Nkrumah
Governor-general The governor-general was the representative of the monarch in Ghana and exercised most of the powers of the monarch. 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, 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. In the event of a vacancy the chief justice served as officer administering the government.
Status
PortraitNameTerm of officeMonarchPrime minister Took office Left office Time in office 1 Sir Charles Arden-Clarke 1957 1957 Elizabeth IINkrumah — Sir Kobina Arku Korsah 1957 1957 2 William Hare, 5th Earl of Listowel 1957 1960
Republic (1960–present) Political parties
Other factions
Status
Symbols Constitutional referendum
Died in office
First Republic (1960–1966) Under the Constitution of 1960, the first constitution of the Republic of Ghana, the president replaced the monarch as executive head of state. 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.
PortraitNameElectedTerm of officePolitical party Took office Left office Time in office 1 Kwame Nkrumah 1960 1960 1966 CPP
Military rule (1966–1969) 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.
PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical party Took office Left office Time in office 2 Joseph Arthur Ankrah 1966 1969 Military 3 Akwasi Afrifa 1969 1969
Second Republic (1969–1972) PortraitNameElectedTerm of officePolitical partyPrime minister Took office Left office Time in office Akwasi Afrifa — 1969 1970 MilitaryBusia — Nii Amaa Ollennu — 1970 1970 Independent 4 Edward Akufo-Addo — 1970 1972 Independent
Military rule (1972–1979) 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.
Lieutenant General Fred Akuffo led a palace coup which overthrew General Acheampong, then Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings led a coup d'état which overthrew the Supreme Military Council.
PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical party Took office Left office Time in office 5 Ignatius Kutu Acheampong 1972 1978Military 6 Fred Akuffo 1978 1979 7 Jerry Rawlings 1979 1979
Third Republic (1979–1981) 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. In the event of a vacancy the vice-president served as acting president.
PortraitNameElectedTerm of officePolitical party Took office Left office Time in office 8 Hilla Limann 1979 1979 1981 PNP
Military rule (1981–1993) Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings led a coup d'état which overthrew President Limann and his government, all political parties and Parliament were also dissolved.
PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical party Took office Left office Time in office 9 Jerry Rawlings 1981 1993 Military
Fourth Republic (1993–present) Under the current Constitution the president is head of both state and government. 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.
PortraitNameElectedTerm of officePolitical party Took office Left office Time in office Jerry Rawlings 19921996 1993 2001 years NDC 10 John Kufuor 20002004 2001 2009 years NPP 11 John Atta Mills 2008 2009 2012 NDC 12 John Mahama 2012 2012 2017 NDC 13 Nana Akufo-Addo 20162020 2017 2025 years NPP 14 John Mahama 2024 2025 Incumbent NDC
Timeline since 1960
Term of office in years This is a list of each head of state in order of term length.
Of the 12 post monarchy heads of state, only two, Jerry Rawlings and John Mahama, served in two non consecutive periods.
RankHead of StatePolitical partyLongest continuous termTotal time in officePeriodsCause of end of term1Jerry RawlingsMilitary/National Democratic Congress2Resignation/Natural expiration2John KufuorNew Patriotic Party1Natural expirationNana Akufo-AddoNew Patriotic Party1Natural expiration4Ignatius Kutu AcheampongMilitary1Deposed5Kwame NkrumahConvention People's Party 1Deposed6John MahamaNational Democratic Congress2Natural expiration/In office7John Atta MillsNational Democratic Congress1Death8Joseph Arthur AnkrahMilitary1Resignation9Hilla LimannPeople's National Party1Deposed10Edward Akufo-AddoIndependent1Deposed11Akwasi AfrifaMilitary112Fred AkuffoMilitary1Deposed–Nii Amaa OllennuIndependent1
Standards
Demographics
Head of state Ethnicity Religious affiliation Kwame NkrumahNzema (Akan)Roman Catholic Joseph AnkrahGaMethodist Akwasi AfrifaAshanti (Akan)Anglican Nii Amaa OllennuGaPresbyterian Edward Akufo-AddoAkuapem (Akan)Presbyterian Kofi Abrefa BusiaBono (Akan)Methodist Ignatius Kutu AcheampongAshanti (Akan)Roman Catholic Fred AkuffoAkuapem (Akan)Presbyterian Hilla LimannSissalaRoman Catholic Jerry John RawlingsScottish/Anlo EweRoman Catholic John Agyekum KufuorAshanti (Akan)Roman Catholic John Atta MillsFante (Akan)Methodist John Dramani MahamaGonjaAssemblies of God Nana Akufo-AddoAkuapem/Akyem (Akan)Anglican
References
External links
World Statesmen – Ghana Rulers.org – Ghana