This is a list of the governments of Ghana. Prior to independence, Ghana was under colonial rule in various forms including direct or indirect British rule. On February 12, 1951, the first Ghanaian government or cabinet, dominated by native Ghanaians was formed in the run up to independence on March 6, 1957. since then, Ghana has had a mix of democratically elected governments as well as military ones. It has had a one party state status between 1964 and 1966 while some of the military governments have had extensive civilian involvement such as the Provisional National Defence Council governments.
Governments of Ghana before independence
| Party | Leader | Title | Start date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Committee of Merchants | various | Governor of the Committee of Merchants | 23 June 1751 | Start date of earliest governor available. |
| various | Governor | 27 March 1822 | ||
| Crown colony under Sierra Leone | ||||
| various | Governor | 27 March 1843 | ||
| Crown colony under direct British rule | ||||
| various | Governor | 4 March 1874 | ||
| Convention People's Party | Dr. Kwame Nkrumah | Leader of Government Business | 12 February 1951 | Nkrumah was released from prison to head this government |
Governments of Ghana since independence
| Party | Leader | Title | Start date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Nkrumah government ( Convention People's Party) |
Dr. Kwame Nkrumah | Prime Minister | March 6, 1957 | UK-style parliamentary government. First government after independence. |
| First Republic | ||||
|
Nkrumah government ( Convention People's Party) |
Dr. Kwame Nkrumah | President | 1 July 1960 | Started as UK-style parliamentary government and ended as one party state between 1964 and 1966. |
| 24 February 1966 coup d'état | ||||
| National Liberation Council |
Joseph Arthur Ankrah Lt. Gen. A.A. Afrifa |
Head of state | 24 February 1966 3 April 1969 |
First military intervention in government |
| Second Republic | ||||
|
Busia government ( Progress Party) |
Dr. Kofi Busia | Prime Minister | 1 October 1969 | Germany-style parliamentary government. |
| 13 January 1972 coup | ||||
|
National Redemption Council Supreme Military Council |
Gen. I.K. Acheampong | Head of state | 13 January 1972 9 October 1975 |
Gen. Acheampong was removed in a bloodless palace coup. |
| Supreme Military Council | Lt. Gen. Fred W.K. Akuffo | Head of state | 5 July 1978 | |
| 4 June 1979 coup | ||||
| Armed Forces Revolutionary Council | Flt. Lt. Jerry Rawlings | Head of state | 4 June 1979 | Coup / military revolt by junior ranks of the Ghana Armed Forces after a failed attempt by Rawlings on 15 May 1979 |
| Third Republic | ||||
|
Limann government ( People's National Party) |
Dr. Hilla Limann | President | 24 September 1979 | US-style presidential government |
| 31 December 1981 coup | ||||
| Provisional National Defence Council | Flt. Lt. Jerry Rawlings | Head of state | 31 December 1981 | Rawlings second coup |
| Fourth Republic | ||||
|
Rawlings government ( National Democratic Congress) |
Jerry John Rawlings | President | 7 January 1993 | Rawlings resigned from the military to stand elections |
|
Kufuor government ( New Patriotic Party) |
John Agyekum Kufuor | President | 7 January 2001 | First change of government through elections in Ghana |
|
Mills government (National Democratic Congress) |
John Atta Mills | President | 7 January 2009 | Died in office |
|
Mahama government (National Democratic Congress) |
John Dramani Mahama | President | 24 July 2012 | |
| Akufo-Addo government
(New Patriotic Party) |
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo | President | 7 January 2017 | First opposition leader to win election against a sitting president in Ghana History |