Since gaining independence in 1957, Ghana has had different heads of state. From 1957 to 1960, Queen Elizabeth II was the official head of state, represented by a governor-general.
In 1960, Ghana became a republic, and the position of executive president replaced the monarch and governor-general. Since then, Ghana has been led by several presidents, both civilian and military.
Each president has contributed to the country’s political history, with leadership changing through elections, coups, and transitions.
READ ALSO: List Of Tanzania Presidents (Past And Present)
List Of Presidents Of Ghana Since Independence
No | Name | Tenure | Political Party |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kwame Nkrumah | 1960 - 1966 | Convention People's Party |
2 | Major-General Joseph Arthur Ankrah | 1966 - 1969 | Military |
3 | Brigadier General Akwasi Afrifa | 1969 - 1970 | Military |
4 | Edward Akufo-Addo | 1970 - 1972 | Independent |
5 | Colonel Ignatius Kutu Acheampong | 1972 - 1978 | Military |
6 | Lieutenant-General Frederick Akuffo | 1978 - 1979 | Military |
7 | Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings | 1979 (June - September) | Military |
8 | Hilla Limann | 1979 - 1981 | People's National Party |
9 | Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings | 1981 - 2001 | Military |
10 | John Agyekum Kufuor | 2001 - 2009 | New Patriotic Party |
11 | John Evans Atta Mills | 2009 - 2012 | National Democratic Congress |
12 | John Dramani Mahama | 2012 - 2017 | National Democratic Congress |
13 | Nana Akufo-Addo | 2017 - Present | New Patriotic Party |
Who Was The Famous President Of Ghana?
Kwame Nkrumah is known as the most famous president of Ghana and one of Africa’s greatest leaders. He was instrumental in Ghana’s independence and inspired freedom movements across Africa.
Nkrumah was born on September 21, 1909, in a small village called Nkroful, in what was then known as the Gold Coast. His family was poor, but he worked hard to get an education.
He attended Achimota School in Ghana and later studied in the United States, where he went to the University of Pennsylvania and Lincoln University.
When Nkrumah returned to the Gold Coast in 1947, he became active in politics. He joined the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) but later broke away to form his party, the Convention People’s Party (CPP), in 1949.
Unlike the UGCC, which wanted slow progress toward independence, the CPP demanded immediate self-rule. Nkrumah’s strong leadership attracted many supporters, and he became a powerful voice for independence.
His efforts led to civil unrest and protests against British rule. In 1951, while in prison for his activism, Nkrumah was elected to Parliament.
After being released, he became the leader of government business and later Prime Minister. On March 6, 1957, Ghana became the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence.
In 1960, Ghana adopted a new constitution, and Nkrumah became the first president of the Republic of Ghana. He modernizes the country by building schools, hospitals, and factories.
He also promoted Pan-African unity, helping to create the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963. However, Nkrumah became more authoritarian over time. He created a one-party state and declared himself “President for Life” in 1964.
This upset many people, and by 1966, Ghana’s economy was struggling due to its costly projects and poor management.
That year, while Nkrumah was visiting China, he was overthrown in a military coup. Nkrumah spent the rest of his life in exile, mainly in Guinea before he passed away on April 27, 1972, in Romania.
READ ALSO: List Of South African Presidents Since 1994
Who Was The President In 1992 In Ghana?
In 1992, the President of Ghana was Jerry John Rawlings. He won the presidential election held on November 3, 1992.
This election was the first contested presidential election in Ghana since 1979 and the first under the new constitution, which brought back multiparty democracy.
Before this, Ghana had been under military rule for many years. Jerry Rawlings had been in power since 1981 after leading a coup.
He served as the leader of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) and introduced several reforms, including changes to the economy and infrastructure improvements.
By the early 1990s, both the people of Ghana and the international community were pushing for a return to democratic governance.
Rawlings responded by introducing a new constitution and announcing plans for elections. The 1992 election was competitive, with several candidates running against Rawlings.
These included Albert Adu Boahen from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Hilla Limann from the People’s National Convention (PNC), Kwabena Darko from the National Independence Party (NIP), and Emmanuel Erskine from the People’s Heritage Party (PHP).
Rawlings represented the Progressive Alliance, which included his party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC). The election campaign was tense, with accusations of electoral fraud, but international observers found the elections to be mostly free and fair.
Voter turnout was around 50%, and Rawlings won with 58.4% of the votes. After his victory, Rawlings was sworn in as President on January 7, 1993, starting Ghana’s Fourth Republic.
Who Is The Current President Of Ghana?
The current President of Ghana is John Dramani Mahama. He was sworn in on January 7, 2025, for his third term in office. The ceremony took place at the Black Star Square in Accra, the capital city, with many important guests from Africa.
His return to the presidency follows a tough period in the country’s politics, as Ghana has been dealing with serious economic problems.
Mahama previously served as president from 2012 to 2017. He first became president after the death of President John Evans Atta Mills, and later won the 2012 election to serve a full term.
During his first time in office, Mahama worked on many projects to improve Ghana’s infrastructure and development, though he also faced criticism for managing the country’s economy poorly.
This led to his defeat in the 2016 election, where Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party won. After losing in two elections, Mahama made a successful comeback.
In December 2024, he won the presidential election with about 56% of the vote. His main opponent was Mahamudu Bawumia, the candidate from the New Patriotic Party, who received 41%.
Mahama’s victory was seen as a sign that many Ghanaians wanted change, especially due to the tough economic situation.
During his inauguration speech, Mahama spoke about the need for Ghana to recover economically and tackle problems like corruption and high unemployment. He promised to work hard to restore confidence in the government and improve the lives of the people.
READ ALSO: List Of Nigeria’s Presidents Since Independence
Who Is The Current Vice President Of Ghana?
Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang is the current Vice President of Ghana. She started her term on January 7, 2025, under President John Mahama.
This is a historic moment for Ghana because she is the first woman to hold this important position in the country’s history.
Opoku-Agyemang was born on November 22, 1951, in Cape Coast, Ghana. Her full name at birth was Jane Naana Sam, and she comes from the Fante ethnic group.
She went to several schools during her childhood, including the Anglican Girls’ School in Koforidua and Wesley Girls’ Senior High School in Cape Coast.
After finishing high school, she went on to study at the University of Cape Coast, where she earned a Bachelor of Education degree in English and French in 1977.
Later, she continued her studies at York University in Toronto, and she obtained both a Master’s and a Ph.D. degree. She started working at the University of Cape Coast in 1986 and became the Head of the Department of English and later the Dean of the Faculty of Arts.
Opoku-Agyemang made history in 2008 when she became the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast.
She also worked internationally with organizations like UNESCO and has shared her knowledge at important events, such as those held by the United Nations.
Opoku-Agyemang’s political career began when she served as Ghana’s Minister for Education from 2013 to 2017 during President Mahama’s time in office.
In the 2020 elections, she made history again by being chosen as the first female running mate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), one of Ghana’s two major political parties.
She was re-nominated for the 2024 elections, which they won, leading to her becoming Vice President. Opoku-Agyemang is married to Edmund Opoku-Agyemang, and they have three children together.
