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Goverment |
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THE EXECUTIVE |
The executive arm of state is headed by the President and is made up of the Vice-President, the Attorney-General, the cabinet, Ministers and Deputy Ministers.
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PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA |
H. E. Professor John Evans Atta Mills |
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H. E. Professor John Evans Atta Mills, the President of the Republic of Ghana was born at Tarkwa on July 21st, 1944. He hails from Ekumfi Otuam in the Central Region.
Prof Mills launched a lifelong learning at Achimota Secondary School, where he completed the Advanced Level Certificate in 1963.
To further his education, he attended the University of Ghana, Legon where he received a Bachelor’s Degree and Professional Certificate in Law (1967).
While earning the PhD in Oriental and African Studies from the University of London at the age of 27, Dr. Mills was selected as a Fulbright Scholar at Stanford Law School (USA).
Prof. Mills’s first formal teaching assignment was as a Lecturer at the Faculty of Law at the University of Ghana, Legon. He spent more than twenty five years imparting acquired knowledge to students, and rose in position from Lecturer to Senior Lecturer to Associate Professor. His contribution to the University was remarkable having served on numerous Boards, Committees, and Schemes. Also during those twenty five years, Prof. Mills travelled as a Visiting Lecturer and Professor to Temple University (USA) and Leiden University (Holland), and presented research papers at Symposiums and Conferences throughout the world.
Prof Mills has more than one dozen publications to his credit. These include:
Taxation of Periodical or Deferred Payments arising from the Sale of Fixed Capital (1974)
Exemption of Dividends from Income Taxation: A critical Appraisal (1977)
Report of the Tax Review Commission, Ghana, Parts 1, 2 & 3, (1977) and
Ghana’s Income Tax laws and the Investor. An inter-faculty lecture published by the University of Ghana.
His expertise goes well beyond the classroom, and is evidenced by the various examiner positions he held with finance related institutions throughout Ghana (i.e. Institute of Chartered Accountants, Institute of Bankers, Ghana Tax Review Commission). As an advocate for recreation, active sportsman and sports fan, Prof. Mills has supported the community through groups such as the Ghana Hockey Association, National Sport Council of Ghana, and Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club.
The following are a few of his activities and projects:
Member of the Ghana Stock Exchange Council
Board of Trustees, Mines Trust
Management Committee of Commonwealth Administration of Tax Experts
United Nations Ad Hoc Group of Experts in International Cooperation in Tax Matters 7 United Nations Law and Population Project.
Study on Equipment Leasing in Ghana
Casebook preparation on Ghana’s Income Tax
Review of Ghana’s Double Tax Agreement with the UK.
A track record of financial knowledge and strong professional credentials led to several important appointments. In 1988, Prof. J.E. Atta Mills became the Acting Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service of Ghana and named Commissioner in September 1996. In 1997, Prof Mills became the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana and served in that capacity with former President J.J. Rawlings till 2000.
On January 3, 2009, Prof. Mills was declared by the Electoral Commission as the President-elect of Ghana after a second presidential run-off of 2008 the Presidential Elections.
Prof. Mills was sworn into office as Executive President of the Republic of Ghana on Wednesday January 7, 2009.
He is married to Ernestina Naadu, an educationist and has a son.
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Minister Of State |
| Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu |
-Minister of Justice and Attorney-General |
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| Cabinet Ministers |
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Dr Kwabena Dufuor |
Finance |
Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo |
Education |
Mr Cletus Avoka |
Interior |
Mr. Haruna Iddrisu |
Communication |
| Mr Joseph Yieleh-Chireh |
Local Government and Rural Development |
Ms Akua Sena Dansua |
Women and Children's Affairs |
| Ms Hannah Tetteh |
Trade and Industry |
| Mrs Juliana Azumah Mensah |
Tourism |
| Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei |
Energy |
Lt. Gen. Joseph Henry Smith (rtd) |
Defence |
Hon. Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni |
Foreign Affairs |
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NON Cabinet Ministers |
| Minister |
Ministry
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| Mr Joe Gidisu |
Roads and Highways |
| Mr Collins Dauda |
Forestry And Natural Resources |
| Mr Mike Hammah |
Transport |
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LEGISTATURE |
Parliament of Ghana
Parliament has 230 members, elected for a four-year term in single-seat constituencies.
Parliament is made up of representatives of political parties (MPs):
Majority: NDC (114)
Minority: NPP (107), PNC (2), CPP (1), Independent Candidates (4)
LEADERSHIP OF THE HOUSE
Speaker of Parliament: |
Rt. Hon. Joyce Bamford-Addo |
First Deputy Speaker: |
Hon. E.K. Doe Adjaho - First Deputy Speaker |
Second Deputy Speaker: |
Hon. Professor Mike Oquaye |
Majority Leader: |
Hon. Alban S.K. Bagbin |
Minority Leader: |
Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu |
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THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENT |
| Parliament makes laws and amends bills. Parliament may by law regulate professional, trade and business organisations. |
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JUDICIARY |
According to the constitution of Ghana, justice emanates from the people and shall be administered in the name of the Republic by the Judiciary, which shall be independent and subject only to this Constitution. Ghanaian courts have acted with increased autonomy under the 1992 constitution.
Citizens exercise popular participation in the administration of justice through the institutions of public and customary tribunals and the jury and assessor systems.
The judicial power of Ghana is vested in the Judiciary; accordingly, neither the President nor Parliament nor any organ or agency of the President or Parliament shall have or be given final judicial power.
The Chief Justice is the Head of the Judiciary and responsible for the administration and supervision of the Judiciary.
The Judiciary have jurisdiction in all matters civil and criminal, including matters relating to the Constitution, and such other jurisdiction as Parliament may, by law, confer on it.
The Judiciary consists of
The Superior Courts of Judicature comprising
(i) The Supreme Court;
(ii) The Court of Appeal; and
(iii) The High Court and Regional Tribunals.
According to the constitution, the Supreme Court shall consist of the Chief Justice and not less than nine other Justices of the Supreme Court. At present, the Supreme Court of Ghana, which consists of the Chief Justice and ten other Justices, is the final court of appeal and has jurisdiction over matters relating to the enforcement or the interpretation of constitutional law.
The Chief Justice is Mr Justice George Kingsley Acquah
The Court of Appeal, which includes the chief justice and not fewer than ten other judges, has jurisdiction to hear and to determine appeals from any judgment, decree, or High Court of Justice order.
The High Court of Justice, which consists of the chief justice and not fewer than twenty other justices, and such other Justice of the Superior Court of Judicature as the Chief Justice may, by writing signed by him, request to sit as High Court Justice for any period. The high court has jurisdiction in all matters, civil and criminal, other than those involving treason.
Lower Courts: Such lower courts or tribunals as Parliament may by law establish. |
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THE ATTORNEY - GENERAL |
Under the Constitution of Ghana, there is :
- an Attorney-General of Ghana who is a Minister of State and the principal legal adviser to the Government.
- Under the Constitution of Ghana, there is The Attorney-General discharges such other duties of a legal nature as may be referred or assigned to him by the President, or imposed on him by the Constitution or any other law.
- The Attorney-General is responsible for the initiation and conduct of all prosecutions of criminal offences.
- All offences prosecuted in the name of the Republic of Ghana is at the suit of the Attorney-General or any other person authorised by him in accordance with any law.
- All offences prosecuted in the name of the Republic of Ghana is at the suit of the Attorney-General or any other person authorised by him in accordance with any law.
- The Attorney-General has audience in all courts in Ghana.
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COUNCIL OF STATE |
The Council of State was initiated with the coming into being of the 1969 Constitution. Consequent Constitutions, 1979, 1992, also inculcated the Council of State.
The Council of State has 25 sitting members. Of this eleven (11) are nominated by the President of the Republic of Ghana, ten (10) are nominated from the regions and four (4) represent institutions. These four members are ex-officio members, a former Chief Justice, a former Chief of Defence Staff, a former Inspector of Police and a former president of the National Council of Chiefs.
Presently, 24 members have taken the oath as members of the Council of State.
The main work of the Council is to advice the president in the performance of his functions, advice ministers, parliament and other institutions, both public and private in the performance of their duties. However, the institutions are not bound in any way to comply with the advice.
Also, when the President wants to appoint high-ranking public servants as in the commissioner for Internal Revenue Service and the Inspector General of Police, he does it in consultation with the Council.
The Council is divided into four committees to enable it to work efficiently and effectively. These are the Appointments and Petitions committee, the Finance and Welfare committee, the Development, Science and Technology committee and the Legal and Public Affairs committee. They meet five (5) times in a month, three (3) for plenary and (2) two for committee meetings. They however meet more times in a month depending on the situation at hand and how serious it is. The Council of State is not a common fixture on the political environment of many nations. Few countries like France, Sierra Leone and Saudi Arabia have a similar structure. |
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MEMBERS OF COUNCIL OF STATE |
1. Mrs. Victoria Addy |
– Presidential Appointee |
2. Mrs. Cecilia Johnson |
– Presidential Appointee |
3. Prof. Akilakpa Sawyerr |
– Presidential Appointee |
4. Prof. Kofi Awoonor |
– Presidential Appointee |
5. Daasebre Kwebu Ewusi VII |
– Presidential Appointee |
6. Alhaji Asoma Banda |
– Presidential Appointee |
7. Hajara Musa Ali |
– Presidential Appointee |
8. Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu |
– Presidential Appointee |
9. Nana Akuako Sarpong |
– Presidential Appointee |
10. Otumfuo Badu Bonsu XV |
– Presidential Appointee |
11. Rev. Dr. Nii Amoo Darko |
– Presidential Appointee |
12. Lt. Gen Arnold Quainoo (rtd) |
– Presidential Appointee |
13. Peter Tenganabang Nanfuri |
– Presidential Appointee |
14. Professor Naa Sebiyam Nabila |
– Presidential Appointee |
15. J.H. Owusu Acheampong |
– Brong Ahafo Region |
16. Nana Asiamah Poku Afrifa
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– Ashanti Region |
17. Kpana Mohammed Baba Bawa |
– Northern Region |
18. Dr. Bernard Kwesi Glover |
– Volta Region |
19. Very Rev. Jacob Ayibour |
– Upper Eat Region |
20. Mr. George Kofi Dadzie |
– Western Region Region
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21. Naa Seidu Briamah
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– Upper West Region |
22. Osaberima Owusu Gyamadu III
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– Eastern Region
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© 2006-2007 Ghana High Commission. All Rights Reserved |
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