I commence my dilatation with the words of one of the greatest jurists britain has ever produced, lord denning mr in the case. 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. Both the president and the legislature are popularly elected for fouryear terms. Below is the 1992 constitution of the r epublic of ghana, arranged by chapters. The earlier constitutions can be located in the historic. A top member of the convention peoples party cpp, james kwabena bomfeh, popularly known as kabila, has disclosed that the judges who wrote ghanas 1992 constitution drafted it to satisfied former military leader, jerry john rawlings. Article 127 of the constitution mandates the independence of the judiciary. Akufoaddo wishes ghanaians a happy constitution day article. After ghanas independence from britain in 1957, president kwame nkrumah emerged as a. Ghanas constitution is meant to protect the media but does. Ghanas constitution of 1992 with amendments through 1996. Since the democratization of ghana in 1992, it has been one of the two dominant parties in ghana politics.
Constitution of the republic of ghana amendment act, 1996. The ghanaian political parties,manifestos, the electorate. History and antiquity bear ample testimonies to the paradoxical and enigmatic nature of some individuals. Between independence 1957 the year ghana won independence from british until 1992 the country had three civilian heads of state interspersed with several military rulers. He recounted how most of the leading members of the npp refused to participate in the constituent assembly that wrote the 1992 constitution. Browse and navigate ghana constitution in easy, natural real time and advanced.
From may 25 to september 17, 1787, the federal convention met in philadelphia, pennsylvania, to draft the constitution of the united states. The 1992 constitution of the republic of ghana that came into effect on january. The constitution of ghana is the supreme law of the republic of ghana. A series of military coups brought jerry rawlings to power in 1981. He went further to state that the content of the ndc and npp manifestos were derived from the 1992 constitution and therefore it was rather the npp that plagiarized the handiwork of the ndc. The ghanaian political parties,manifestos, the electorate and. The 1992 constitution of the republic of ghana that came into effect on january 7, 1993, provides the basic charter for the countrys fourth attempt at republican. After political liberalization in 1992, ghana created a constitution with one of the largest guarantees. The ghanaian professor of economics at the university of guelph in canada who is also a fellow of the centre for economic studies and the ifo institute for economic research cesifo in munich, germany and the tshepo. Violence and discrimination against lgbt people in ghana hrw. Is it unconstitutional to let activists use ghanas. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not.
Below is the 1992 constitution of the republic of ghana, arranged by chapters. Oct 14, 2011 the 1992 constitution of ghana is the supreme law of the state. Ghana supreme court and the power of judicial interpretation. Ghana alternated between civilian and military governments until january 1993, when the military government gave way to the fourth republic of ghana after presidential and parliamentary elections in late 1992. Based on information from ghana, the constitution of the republic of ghana, accra, 1992. Being sovereign, the nation must ensure that its actions are in accordance. Presidential elections were held on november 3 and parliamentary elections on december 29 of that year.
It was approved on 28 april 1992 through a national referendum after 92%. All laws made by parliament must be in keeping with the provisions of the constitution. Dec 23, 2019 consistent with the 1992 constitution, the president wrote a letter to the speaker of parliament, professor aaron michael oquaye, informing him about the nomination of justice anin yeboah for the. National geographic writes, the precious metal that once gave its name to the gold coast lured portuguese, danes, dutch, germans, and british. Prior to the passing of the 1992 constitution none of the countrys laws guaranteed media freedom in such extensive terms. This complete constitution has been generated from excerpts of texts from the. News ghana is ghanas leading online news portal for business in west africa and around the world. A highly accessible, easy to use app version of the constitution of ghana the supreme law of the republic of ghana. Ghana the 1992 constitution flags, maps, economy, history.
The bill of rights, ten amendments that detail individuals rights and immunities against the central government, was presented to the first congress of the united states and ratified on september 25, 1789. Ghana is a unitary republic with an executive presidency and a. Mr arthur, in an application filed on monday, 6 april 2020 before the human rights division of the high court, is, however, arguing that his personal information, which is in the possession of the 1st and 2nd respondents, vodafone and mtn, respectively, is protected by the 1992 republican constitution of ghana and may not be given out to a. Jan 07, 2019 20190107 the information ministry is holding the maiden edition of the constitution day lecture to mark ghana s return to constitutional rule in 1993 at the ghana academy of arts and sciences. To protect the independence of the media, the national media commission was created in 1993 in accordance with a constitutional provision. Since the first republican constitution in 1960, ghana has had three other constitutions. When was the 1992 constitution of ghana written answers. The unicameral legislature consists of a 275seat parliament.
A new constitution, based on the us model, was approved by national referendum in april 1992. Nana addo in one of te qualified lawyers in ghana because during the 1992 constitution of ghana he was one of the members who wrote the constitution with tsatsu who is the ever youngest lawyer in. Multiparty democracy started with the new 1992 constitution. Of the republic of ghana entitled the political parties act, 2000 an act to revise the statute on political parties to bring the provisions in conformity with the constitution and to provide for related matters. Not only had that, but a lot of private newspapers surfaced. Ghana has over the years developed into a world player with its government engaging in all kinds of international business and economic transactions with foreign partners. Dziwornu, the associations vice president, wrote in a witness statement. A fellow of the centre for democratic development cdd ghana, professor atsu amegashie, has suggested that the 1992 constitution must be amended to cap the number of members of parliament mps to avoid the trap of successively increasing parliamentary seats from equallysized constituencies to proportionallysized. Structure of government of the fourth republic, 1994.
The role of chieftaincy in ghana iarticle 277 of the 1992 constitution of ghana defines a chief as a person, who, hailing from the appropriate family and lineage, has been validly nominated, elected or selected and enstooled, enskinned or installed as a chief or queen mother in accordance with the relevant customary law and usage. The cpp man is calling for indemnity clauses in the constitution to be amended. The new patriotic party npp is a centreright and liberal conservative party in ghana. Lawyer challenges akufoaddos attempt to secure private.
The use of biotech as a tool for the enhancement of agricultural productivity is in consonance with article 36 3 of ghana s 1992 constitution, which enjoins the state to take appropriate measures to promote the development of agriculture and industry, john a. Constitution of the fourth republic of ghana promulgation law, 1992 pndcl 282 as amended by constitution of the republic of ghana amendment act, 1996 act 527. This complete constitution has been generated from excerpts of texts from the repository of the comparative constitutions project, and distributed on. The constitution day is celebrated on january 7 in ghana to mark the adoption of the 1992 constitution and the countrys return to democratic rule. Supreme law of republic of ghana, approved on 28 april 1992 through a national referendum after 92% support. Ghanas constitution of 1992 with amendments through. Atsu amegashie, a fellow of the centre for democatic developmentghana has suggested.
About ghana 1992 constitution ghana s 1992 constitution was developed as part of the process to transition the country from military to civilian rule. Parliament, ministers and the 1992 constitution news ghana. May 02, 2017 the 1992 constitution opened up the media landscape for more media organisations to operate. It also led to the establishment of the first private radio and television stations in ghana. Media in ghanas fourth republic philipatawuras blog. Article 1253 of the 1992 constitution states that the judicial power of ghana shall be vested in the judiciary. The 1992 constitution of ghana divides powers among a commanderinchief of the ghana armed forces president of ghana, parliament. It outlines the branches and powers of government, establishes qualifications and times for elections, lists basic human rights and sets up independent institutions to protect these rights. Is it unconstitutional to let activists use ghanas court. Ghana is a country on the atlantic coast of africa with the capital city of accra. Does ghana, west africa have such a law as 1992 constitution. This means that no other law in ghana would supersede this documents authority and if any legislation is enacted that conflicts with the constitution, that legislation would be declared, unconstitutional article 12. The work of the committee of experts on the 1992 constitution. This came about in the face of mounting pressure from ghana s banned opposition parties, led by the movement of freedom and justice mfj.
Jan 17, 2018 chairman of the committee of experts on the constitution. After ghana s independence from britain in 1957, president kwame nkrumah emerged as a leading spokesman for panafricanism. Constitution, the constitution of ghana was adopted by referendum in april 1992 and came into force on the 28 of april 19921. We the people of the united states, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution for the united states of america. The public services commission psc is the central management agency cma responsible for providing strategic policy guidance for human resource management in the public service organizations listed under article 190 1 of the 1992 constitution. It was where europeans first arrived for trading in gold and then later in slaves. The main stages in the evolution of the 1992 constitution. A referendum on a new constitution was held in ghana on 28 april 1992. Daniel korang of ghanaweb wrote, mindful of our gloomy past of untold abuse of human rights, ghanaians, in 1992, resolved to adopt a democratic system of government anchored on the rule of law and respect for fundamental human rights. To make recommendations to the government for consideration and provide a draft bill for possible amendment to the 1992 constitution. It was approved on 28 april 1992 through a national referendum after 92% support. But that year it finally embraced democratic rule and adopted a constitution. Accordingly, the 1992 constitution guarantees fundamental human rights and civil liberties, including the freedom and the independence of the media. Article 72 of ghanas 1992 constitution ghanaculturepolitics.
The constitution was approved at the referendum held on 28 april 1992 and promulgated by the constitution of the fourth republic of ghana promulgation law, 1992. Perhaps, williams shakespeare was right when he said that hell is empty and all the devils are here. It defines the fundamental political principles, establishing the structure, procedures, powers and duties of the government, structure of the judiciary and legislature, and spells out the fundamental rights and duties of citizens. The constitution was approved at the referendum held on 28 april 1992 and. In exercise of the power conferred on the electoral commission under article 63 9 of the 1992 constitution, this instrument is hereby made. The main issues were the reintroduction of multiparty politics and the division of powers between the president and parliament there were 8,255,690 registered voters for the referendum. Jul 18, 2019 ghanas 1992 constitution must be amended so the number of mps can be capped, prof. The 1992 constitution of the republic of ghana that came into effect on january 7, 1993, provides the basic charter for the countrys fourth attempt at republican democratic government since independence in 1957. This constitution shall be the supreme law of ghana and any other law found to be. Ascertain from the people of ghana their views on the operation of the 1992 fourth republican constitution and, in particular, the strengths and weaknesses of the constitution. It declares ghana to be a unitary republic with sovereignty residing in the ghanaian people. The latest amendment included here is the constitution of the republic of ghana amendment act, 1996 which was assented on 16 december 1996. In 1957, when ghana achieved full political independence the constitution was fashioned after the westminster model.
As a result of internal and external pressures for a return to constitutional rule, the national commission for democracy ncd established by the provisional national defence council pndc carried out a series of public seminars and consultations with the aim of soliciting. The latest amendment included here is the constitution of the republic of ghana amendment. Constitution of ghana wikisource, the free online library. Amendments to the constitution in 1960 transformed ghana into a. Jan 08, 2018 59 ibid the terms of reference of the commission are to. This freedom covers all ghanaian and gives the legal.
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