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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. Mr John Agyekum Kufuor |
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Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor was born on December 8, 1938 in Kumasi, Ghana. He attended Prempeh College for his Secondary Education, where he passed at the top of his class. He enrolled at Lincoln Inn, London, and was called to the Bar in 1961 at the age of 22.
He then entered Oxford University where he passed his Honours BA degree in 1964 in Economics, Philosophy and Politics. He was subsequently confirmed, in accord with Oxford traditions, with the Master's degree by the University.
Both sides of Kufuor's parentage come from distinguished families whose members include Chiefs, Professionals and Politicians. J. A. Kufuor is happily married to Theresa (Nee Mensah). The marriage is blessed with five children. Mr. Kufuor and his family belong to the Roman Catholic Church.
Mr. Kufuor comes to the Presidency with impressive Public service credentials, spanning over thirty years. In 1967, he was appointed Chief Legal Officer and Town Clerk (City Manager) of Kumasi, the Second largest City of Ghana. He was a member of the 1968-69 and the 1979 Constituent Assemblies that drafted the Constitutions of the Second and Third Republics respectively. In addition he was a Founding Member of the Progress Party (PP) in 1969, the Popular Front Party (PFP) in 1979 and is a Founding Member of the New Patriotic Party(NPP). He has twice been elected as a Member of Parliament, during the Second and Third Republics. He has also been in political detention on two occasions as a result of military coups that overthrew the Second and Third Republics.
He has been a Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and in this capacity, he represented Ghana on several occasions. From 1969 to December, 1971, he led Ghana's Delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) Ministerial Meetings in Addis Ababa, and the Summit Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement in Lusaka, Zambia. In 1970, he led the Ghanaian Delegation to Moscow in the Former Soviet Union, Prague (Former Czechoslovakia), and Belgrade (Yugoslavia) to discuss Ghana's indebtedness to these countries.
As the Spokesman on Foreign Affairs and Deputy Opposition Leader of the Popular Front Party (PFP) Parliamentary Group during the Third Republic, he was invited to accompany President Limann to the Organization of African Unity (OAU) Summit Conference in Freetown, Sierra Leone. He was also a member of the parliamentary Delegation that visited the United States of America(USA) in 1981 to talk to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank on Ghana's economic problems.
In January, 1982, the leadership of the All People's Party (APP), which was an alliance of all the opposition parties, advised some leading members, including the Deputy Leader of the Alliance, Alhaji Iddrisu Mahama, the General Secretary, Dr. Obed Asamoah and Mr. J. A Kufuor to accept an invitation from the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC)to serve in what was purported to be a National Government. Mr. Kufuor was appointed the Secretary for Local Government in this new Government.
As a Secretary for Local Government, he authored the Local Government Policy Guidelines that were to be the foundation of the current decentralized District Assemblies. He resigned within seven months of acceptance of the position after having satisfied himself that the PNDC Government was not the national Government that it promised to be. He was particularly uncomfortable with the brutality, intolerance and abuse of human rights that characterized the PNDC government.
On April 20th 1996, Mr. J. A. Kufuor was nominated by 1034 out of 2000 delegates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) drawn from all the 200 Constituencies of the Country to run for the President of Ghana on December 10, 1996. After campaigning for less than nine months, Mr. Kufuor polled almost 40% of the popular votes. On October 23, 1998, he was re-nominated by the New patriotic Party not only to run again for President but also to officially assume the position of Leader of the Party.
Mr. J.A. Kufuor won the presidential elections in Dec. 2000 and was sworn in as president on January 7 2001.
President Kufuor again won elections in December 2004, and was sworn into office for a second four-year-term from January 7, 2005 to January 2008. |
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MISNISTER |
MINISTRY |
| Mr Albert Kan Dapaah |
Minister of Defence |
Mr Kwamena Bartels |
Interior |
Professor Dominic Fobi |
Education, Science and Sports |
Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface |
Water Resources, Works & Housing |
Mrs Esther Obeng Dapaah |
Lands, Forestry & Mines |
Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng |
Tourism and Diaspora Relations |
Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko |
Local Government, Rural Development and Environment |
Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu |
Finance and Economic Planning |
Mr Francis Poku |
National Security |
Major Courage Quashigah (rtd) |
Health |
Mr Joe Ghartey |
Justice and Attorney General |
Mr Ernest Debrah |
Food and Agriculture |
Mr Joseph Adda |
Energy |
Mr Akwasi Osei-Adjei |
Foreign Affairs |
Mrs Gladys Asmah |
Fisheries |
Mr Abraham Osei Aidooh |
Parliamentary Affairs |
Mr Joe Baidoo-Ansah |
Trade and Industry |
Nana Akomea |
Manpower, Youth and Employment |
Mrs Oboshie Sai-Cofie |
Information and National Orientation |
Dr Benjamin Aggrey-Ntim |
Communications |
Hajia Alima Mahama |
Women and Children's Affairs |
Professor Christopher Aneyaw-Akumfi |
Ports, Harbours and Railways |
Dr Anthony Akoto Osei |
Finance and Economic Planning |
Mr Ambrose Dery |
Justice and Attorney General |
Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo |
Culture and Chieftaincy |
Ms Gloria Akuffo |
Aviation |
Samuel Owusu Adjei |
Public Sector Reform |
Ms Elizabeth Ohene |
Education |
Nana Obiri Boahen |
Interior |
Ms Cecilia Abena Dapaah |
Water Resources, Works and Housing |
Mr Godfred T. Bonyon |
Transportation |
Mr Charles Bintim |
Minister of State at the Presidency |
Mr Yaw Barimah |
Minister of State, Presidency |
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REGIONAL MINISTERS |
REGION |
| Mr George Hikah Benson |
Upper West |
Mr Alhassan Samari |
Upper East |
Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris |
Northern |
Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah |
Brong-Ahafo |
Mr Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah |
Ashanti |
Mr Kwadwo Afram Asiedu |
Eastern |
Mr Kofi Dzamesi |
Volta |
Mr Evans A. Amoah |
Western Region |
Nana Ato Arthur |
Central Region |
Shiekh I.C. Quaye |
Greater Accra Region |
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LEGISTATURE |
The Constitution of Ghana allows for a legislature; parliament, political parties and the local government - the District Assembly, which sees to the enactment of laws and policies for the development and wellbeing of the nation. |
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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: NPP (128)
Minority: NDC (94), PNC (4), CPP (3), Independent Candidates (1) |
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Leadership of the House |
| Speaker of Parliament: |
Mr. Ebenezer Sekyi-Hughes |
| First Deputy Speaker: |
Hon. Freddie Blay |
| Second Deputy Speaker: |
Hon. Alhaji Malik Alhassan |
| Majority Leader: |
Hon. Felix Owusu Adjapong |
| Minority Leader: |
Hon. Alban Bagbin |
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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 |
The fourth Council of State of the Fourth Republic of Ghana was sworn into office by the President, His Excellency, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor at the Castle Osu on Thursday, March 24, 2005. |
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PRESIDENT'S APPOINTEES |
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| 1. |
HON. NAA THOMAS TIA SULEMANA |
| 2. |
HON. ALHAJI ALHASSAN BIN-SALIH |
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HON. MR CLEMENT K. TEDAM |
| 4. |
HON. MR A.K. DEKU |
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HON. MADAM AMMA BAME BUSIA |
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HON. MRS GIFTY AFFENYI-DADZIE |
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HON. MR KWESI ARMAH |
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HON. NANA OTUO-SIRIBOE II |
| 9. |
HON. PROFESSOR DANIEL ADZEI BEKOE |
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HON. MRS CECILIA BANNERMAN |
| 11. |
HON. MOST REV. DR. EMMANUEL ASANTE-ANTWI |
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ELECTED REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES |
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| 1. |
HON. MR JOHN SACKAH ADDO - GR. ACCRA |
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HON. MR BENJAMIN ASONABA DAPAAH - ASHANTI |
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HON. NAA PROFESSOR JOHN S. NABILA - NORTHERN |
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HON. MR ATO ESSUMAN - CENTRAL |
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HON. TOGBEGA KPANGBATRIKU III - VOLTA |
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HON. KUORU KURI-BUKTIE LIMANN IV - UPPER WEST |
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HON. MR FRANCIS ASIANAB AFOKO - UPPER EAST |
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HON. MR MICHAEL KOJO ADUSAH - BRONG AHAFO |
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HON. MR PAUL KWABANA DAMOAH - WESTERN |
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HON. MR R.G. OFORI-ATTA ASANTE - EASTERN |
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APPOINTED EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS |
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HON. MAJOR GENERAL (RTD) EDWIN K. SAM FORMER CDS |
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HON. MR KWAKU KYEI (RTD) FORMER IGP |
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HON. ODENEHO GYAPONG II (PRES. NAT. HOUSE OF CHIEFS) |
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| A former Chief Justice is yet to be appointed to complete the list |
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CHAIRMAN |
At the first meeting of the Council held immediately after the swearing in ceremony, members unanimously elected Hon. Professor Danie l Adzei Bekoe as the Chairman of the Fourth Council. 24 of the 25-member Council is now in place. |
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© 2006-2007 Ghana High Commission. All Rights Reserved |
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