Prime Minister of Ghana
Encyclopedia
The Prime Minister of Ghana was the head of government
of Ghana
from 1957 to 1960 and again from 1969 to 1972.
of the Convention People's Party
(CPP). He held that post from the date of Ghanaian independence – 6 March 1957 to 1 July 1960, when a new constitution came into effect that abolished the position. Nkrumah became President
of the Republic, but was later overthrown in a 1966 military coup.
When Ghana returned to civilian rule in 1969, the parliamentary system was restored. The Progress Party
(PP), led by Kofi Abrefa Busia
, won parliamentary elections
and he became Prime Minister on 1 October 1969. Busia's government was deposed in a military coup on 13 January 1972.
A presidential system was instituted in 1979 when civilian rule was re-established. The post of Prime Minister was never revived.
List of Prime Ministers of Ghana
(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)
Head of government
Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
of Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
from 1957 to 1960 and again from 1969 to 1972.
History of the office
The country's first leader and Prime Minister was Kwame NkrumahKwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah was the leader of Ghana and its predecessor state, the Gold Coast, from 1952 to 1966. Overseeing the nation's independence from British colonial rule in 1957, Nkrumah was the first President of Ghana and the first Prime Minister of Ghana...
of the Convention People's Party
Convention People's Party
The Convention People's Party is a socialist political party in Ghana, based on the ideas of former President Kwame Nkrumah.The CPP was formed in 1949 by Kwame Nkrumah to campaign for the independence of the Gold Coast. It ruled Ghana from 1957 to 1966...
(CPP). He held that post from the date of Ghanaian independence – 6 March 1957 to 1 July 1960, when a new constitution came into effect that abolished the position. Nkrumah became President
President of Ghana
The President of Ghana is the elected head of state and head of government of Ghana. Officially styled President of the Republic of Ghana and Commander-in-Chief of the Ghanaian Armed Forces. The current President of Ghana is Prof. John Atta Mills, who took office in January...
of the Republic, but was later overthrown in a 1966 military coup.
When Ghana returned to civilian rule in 1969, the parliamentary system was restored. The Progress Party
Progress Party (Ghana)
The Progress Party was the ruling party in Ghana during the Second Republic . In the 29 August 1969 elections, the PP won 105 of the National Assembly's 140 seats....
(PP), led by Kofi Abrefa Busia
Kofi Abrefa Busia
Kofi Abrefa Busia was Prime Minister of Ghana from 1969–72. He was born in Wenchi, in the then British colony of Gold Coast . He was educated at Methodist School, Wenchi, Mfantsipim School, Cape Coast, then at Wesley College, Kumasi from 1931–32. He later became a teacher at Achimota Secondary...
, won parliamentary elections
Ghanaian parliamentary election, 1969
The Ghanaian parliamentary election was held on 29 August 1969. This was the first parliamentary election since the 1966 coup by the National Liberation Council which toppled the Nkrumah government. The election was to select members for the 140 seat legislative body. Kofi Abrefa Busia, the leader...
and he became Prime Minister on 1 October 1969. Busia's government was deposed in a military coup on 13 January 1972.
A presidential system was instituted in 1979 when civilian rule was re-established. The post of Prime Minister was never revived.
List of Prime Ministers of GhanaGhanaGhana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
(1957-1972)
(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)| Tenure | Portrait | Incumbent | Affiliation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ghana Ghana Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south... |
Unification of Gold Coast Gold Coast (British colony) The Gold Coast was a British colony on the Gulf of Guinea in west Africa that became the independent nation of Ghana in 1957.-Overview:The first Europeans to arrive at the coast were the Portuguese in 1471. They encountered a variety of African kingdoms, some of which controlled substantial... and British Togoland British Togoland British Togoland was a League of Nations Class B mandate in West Africa, under the mandatory power of the United Kingdom. It was effectively formed in 1916 by the splitting of the occupied German protectorate of Togoland into two territories, French Togoland and British Togoland, during the First... upon independence from Britain Great Britain Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles... |
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| 6 March 1957 to 1 July 1960 |  |
Dr.h.c. Kwame Nkrumah Kwame Nkrumah Kwame Nkrumah was the leader of Ghana and its predecessor state, the Gold Coast, from 1952 to 1966. Overseeing the nation's independence from British colonial rule in 1957, Nkrumah was the first President of Ghana and the first Prime Minister of Ghana... , Prime Minister |
CPP | Becoming President |
| Republic of Ghana | ||||
| 1 July 1960 to 1 October 1969 | Post abolished | |||
| 1 October 1969 to 13 January 1972 | Kofi Abrefa Busia Kofi Abrefa Busia Kofi Abrefa Busia was Prime Minister of Ghana from 1969–72. He was born in Wenchi, in the then British colony of Gold Coast . He was educated at Methodist School, Wenchi, Mfantsipim School, Cape Coast, then at Wesley College, Kumasi from 1931–32. He later became a teacher at Achimota Secondary... , Prime Minister |
PP | Deposed in a coup d'état | |
| 13 January 1972 to Present | Post abolished | |||
Affiliations
| CPP | Convention People's Party Convention People's Party The Convention People's Party is a socialist political party in Ghana, based on the ideas of former President Kwame Nkrumah.The CPP was formed in 1949 by Kwame Nkrumah to campaign for the independence of the Gold Coast. It ruled Ghana from 1957 to 1966... authoritarian, socialist, Nkrumah personalist, 1949-1966, 1960-1966 - only legal party |
| PP | Progress Party Progress Party (Ghana) The Progress Party was the ruling party in Ghana during the Second Republic . In the 29 August 1969 elections, the PP won 105 of the National Assembly's 140 seats.... |
| [ edit this box] | |
See also
- GhanaGhanaGhana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
- President of GhanaPresident of GhanaThe President of Ghana is the elected head of state and head of government of Ghana. Officially styled President of the Republic of Ghana and Commander-in-Chief of the Ghanaian Armed Forces. The current President of Ghana is Prof. John Atta Mills, who took office in January...
- Vice-Presidents of Ghana
- Colonial Heads of Ghana
- President of Ghana
- Lists of incumbents