Constitution of ghana wikisource, the free online library. Kwame nkrumah becomes the countrys first elected president. Chieftaincy jurisdiction and the muddle of constitutional. On july 1, 1960, ghana became a republic under the independent constitution of 1957 with a fiveyear term.
First republic 19601966 and the military government of jerry john rawlings 19821993. A3 confession testimony to rule over all things and bring his covenant people to share his throne and glory luke 22. And whereas the people of ghana approved the said constitution for the administration of. Constitution of nigeria 1960 wikisource, the free online.
The earlier constitutions can be located in the historic. Subject to clause 2 a of this article each local church shall be self governing, self propagating, and selfsupporting under the local church pastor, and accredited worker, or an approved leader, as the case may be. This system of election was not intended to be permanent. Nigeria independence act, 1960, the constitution of each region shall have the force of law throughout that region and if any other law is inconsistent with that constitution, the provisions of that constitution shall prevail and the other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void. Act 527 constitution of the republic of ghana amendment act, 1996. Every local church shall be, and remain, an assemblies of god, ghana church and shall be subject to this constitution b. Kludze introduction the supreme court of ghana, in the ghana bar association v. Download constitution of ghana at following download mirror servers. Jul 21, 2015 6 oct 1960 lagos racecourse was the scene, and it was the afternoon of nigerias great day with thousands awaiting the climax. A highly accessible, easy to use app version of the constitution of ghana. The constitution of 1960 and its failure springerlink.
Nkrumah saw independent ghana as a spearhead for the liberation of the rest of africa from colonial rule and the establishment of a socialist african unity under his leadership. In this paper, four aspects of the question will be covered. The three colors of the flag red, green, and black and the black star in the middle are all symbolic of the panafricanist movement. Indeed, ghana modelled her 1960 constitution along the lines of the american. Find out how to download and also install ghana constitution on pc windows which happens to be launched by nexvelsoft ltd. Composition of the parliament of ghana 6 legislative process how a bill becomes a law 9. Ghanas constitution of 1992 with amendments through 1996. Let us learn the criteria to help you download ghana constitution pc on mac or windows computer without much difficulty. Princess alexandra, with sir james robertson the retiring governor. Chapter 12 of the constitution of ghana guarantees freedom of the ghanaian press and the independence of the mass media, and chapter 2 prohibits censorship. Constitution of the republic of ghana and accordingly the party shall pursue the political, economic, social, educational and other objectives stated in the said chapter 6 of the constitution of the republic of ghana. Since the first republican constitution in 1960, ghana has had three other constitutions. Ghana s 1992 constitution is a hybrid arrangement that combines some features of both the us presidential and british westminster systems of government. The parties represented were the convention peoples party and the united party.
This is a download from the blds digital library on opendocs. Constitution of ghana for windows 10 free download on 10. The constitution approved at the referendum held on 28th april, 1992 and set out in the schedule to this law shall come into force on the 7th day of january, 1993. It has been operating in ghana for over 40 years now. Ghanas history the gold coast colonial independence from. Ghana s only and previous experience with a wholesale revie w of a constitution occurred in 1960, when the independence constitution was replaced b y a republican constitution. Ghana attained independence from colonial british rule on march 6, 1957. It retained the federal structure with the regions having residual powers. The winner of the election would become the countrys first president if the new republican constitution was passed which it did. The national anthem of ghana is god bless our homeland ghana. The republican constitution of ghana, the american journal of comparative law, volume 9, issue 4, 1 september 1960, pages 634656. Amendments to the constitution in 1960 transformed ghana into a republic under a president and set up one party state. The elections were held alongside a referendum on creating an executive presidency. The attorneygeneral, has unanimously decided that, even under the 1992 constitution, the high court and the court of appeal have no jurisdiction in chieftaincy matters.
The mass media of ghana is among the most liberal in africa, with ghana ranking as the thirdfreest in africa and 30thmost free in the world on the worldwide press freedom index. Pdf constitutional hybridity and constitutionalism in ghana. Ghanas only and previous experience with a wholesale revie w of a constitution occurred in 1960, when the independence constitution was replaced b y a republican constitution. The 1992 constitution of the republic of ghana weve built this app because we believe in the power of free people to better themselves and achieve change.
The 1960 constitution made provision for the office of the prime minister while that of 1951 did not. The queen was represented in ghana by a governorgeneral. This was a key theme in the early history of ghana s independence. Whereas the said draft constitution was submitted to a national referendum held throughout ghana on the 28th april, 1992. Although ghana s 1992 constitution made provisions for all persons living in ghana to have the right to information as a fundamental human right, little is known on why the framers of the constitution made provisions for this particular right. The main issue was a change in the countrys status from a constitutional monarchy with elizabeth ii as head of state, to a republic with a presidential system of government there were 2,098,651 voters registered for the referendum.
Why this mobile app the ghana constitution mobile app was developed to make the 1992 constitution more accessible to. It established two legislative houses at both the federal and regional levels. February 1966 kwame nkrumah overthrown in a coup detat by emmanuel kwasi. And whereas the people of ghana approved the said constitution for the administration of ghana to come into force on 7th day of january, 1993. The 1960 first republican constitution of ghana guaranteed fundamental human rights. The 1964 amendments to the 1960 constitution turned ghana into a. Free download constitution of ghana for windows 10. This was done to expose women to parliamentary life. After the founding of a republic in 1960, the state became identified with a single political party the cpp, with nkrumah, as life president of both, taking ever more power. Although ghanas 1992 constitution made provisions for all persons living in ghana to have the right to information as a fundamental human right, little is known on why the framers of the constitution made provisions for this particular right.
The constitution shall come into force oll the 24th day of ment constitutionor. Constitutional hybridity and constitutionalism in ghana gyampo and graham,2014. The creation of districts and constituencies in ghana. Some pertinent issues in the current dispensation raymond baguio bening abstract the creation of administrative districts and parliamentary constituencies constitute major aspects of the internal organisation of states. A constitutional referendum was held in ghana on 27 april 1960. This constitution shall be the supreme law of ghana and any other law found to be. Oct 14, 2019 the three colors of the flag red, green, and black and the black star in the middle are all symbolic of the panafricanist movement. Presidential elections were held for the first time in ghana on 27 april 1960. Era of oneparty state in february 1964, the republican constitution was amended making the cpp the national party. Download this app from microsoft store for windows 10 mobile, windows phone 8. The constitution shall come into force oll the 24th day of. Ghana s anthem lyrics were written by michael kwame gbordzoe and the music was written by philip gbeho. Supreme court, high courts, circuit courts, district courts etc. 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 the united kingdom and the other commonwealth realms.
Ghana during the colonial period and when it achieved. Republican constitution of ghana the american journal of. Having modelled three different constitutions along the lines of both systems since 1960, there emerged the preference for constitutional hybridity in 1992. The aftermath of asante or sagrenti war of 1874 which led to the landmark introduction of the gold coast constitution of 1874 and the annexation of the asante kingdom to become a british protectorate in 1885, can hardly be overlooked by history enthusiasts and constitutional lawyers.
In june, 1960, ten women were elected by the national assembly to fill specially created seats. The ghanaian constitution of 1992 invests the creation of districts. On january 7, 1993, the fourth republic was inaugurated, complete with a new constitution. Bills 18 effectiveness of the ghanaian legislative process 15 references 20 lawmaking process in ghana. The constitution acts of parliament subsidiary legislation existing laws all laws existing prior to 1992 constitution common law of ghana i. Below is the 1992 constitution of the republic of ghana, arranged by chapters. On july 1, 1960, it became a republic, the first of four civilian republics that were interspersed with periods of military rule. Egon schwelb the republican constitution of ghana in march, 1960, the government of ghana presented for the consideration of the people of ghana and the national assembly, sitting as a constituent assembly, its proposals for a republican constitution.
It is placed here on my website, as well as also being on it as part of my 1962 book the constitutional law of ghana because i have found there is a demand for it. Sep 02, 2012 the gold coast republic of ghana s history 19451966 under the first prime minister and then president osagyefo dr. The nigerian independence constitution of 1960 oldnaija. From 23 may to 26 june 1957, there was a constitutional conference in london arranged mainly to correct the deficiencies of lyttleton constitution of 1954 and which took the following decisions. Sep 18, 2018 the constitution of the republic of the republic of ghana 1992 1. Ghana s constitution of 1992 with amendments through 1996. Supremacy of the constitution 1 the sovereignty of ghana resides in the people of ghana in whose name and for whose welfare the powers of government are to be exercised in the manner and within the limits laid down in this constitution.
Ghana constitution 1960 preliminary note by francis bennion the following is the text of the 1960 ghana constitution, the first constitution of the country after it became an independent republic by virtue of the ghana independence act 1957. The main issue was a change in the countrys status from a constitutional monarchy with elizabeth ii as head of state, to a republic with a presidential system of government. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. An aci w amend the constitution orthe republic of ghana. The 1951 constitution exercised a limited franchise where only male tax payers voted in the north while both males and females voted in the east and west, unlike the 1960 constitution where every eligible citizen of nigeria can vote. Download free ghana constitution for pc using this tutorial at browsercam. In 1957, when ghana achieved full political independence the constitution was fashioned after the westminster model.
In a plebiscite held last april, the principles of the new constitution were approved by a great majority. Sources of ghana law meaning of sources of law the term sources of law may have several meanings firstly it may mean that which gives the law its formal validity formal source, for example the constitution. The constitution also provided for a judiciary made of superior and inferior courts i. Jan 15, 2017 nigeria independence act, 1960, the constitution of each region shall have the force of law throughout that region and if any other law is inconsistent with that constitution, the provisions of that constitution shall prevail and the other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void. Ag ghana constitution pages 1 50 text version fliphtml5. This complete constitution has been generated from excerpts of texts from the repository of the comparative constitutions project, and distributed on.
The evolution of ghana law since independence william burnett haivey introduction on march 6, 1957, the british gold coast achieved independence in circumstances that apparently offered a bright future for sovereign, independent ghana. In a plebiscite held last april, the principles of the new constitution. Section 5offences and penalties 1 a person who contravenes section 4 commits an offence and is liable on summary. The constitution introduced a parliamentary system of government. Ghana national anthem song, lyrics in english, free mp3. In march, 1960, the government of ghana presented for the consideration of the people of ghana and the national assembly, sitting as a constituent assembly, its proposals for a republican constitution. The lyrics were changed twice, once when a republic was declared in 1960 and again after a 1966 coup. Features of the independence constitution of 1960 nigerian. A ct 25 contracts act, 1960 arrangement of sections frustration of contracts 1. Constitutional hybridity and constitutionalism in ghana. Since 195i, adroit leaders of a wellorganized political party had operated a responsible. The governorgeneral was made the ceremonial head of state. In a plebiscite held last april, the principles of the new constitution were approved by a great m.
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