Salient features of the representation of peoples act clear ias. Whenever it becomes necessary for the constitution to be printed the government printer may omit all parts of this law and the constitution as so printed shall, subject to section 1 of this law have the force of law notwithstanding the omission. Below is the 1992 constitution of the republic of ghana, arranged by chapters. Parliament of ghana a historical background of the. Republic of ghana in africa, ghana ranks 24th by size out of 54 countries, 14th by population and th by population density.
Constitution of the third repubuc of ghana promulgation decree, 1979 2 the said constitution shall have the force of jaw. Jul, 2018 just like every other country, nigeria has it own law that is a constitution which is the highest law in every country. Richards constitution was severely criticised by the nationalists, because it was imposed on nigerians without any prior consultation. Creation of a house of representatives which comprised the governor, 6 members elected from the regional assemblies and 6 special members appointed by the governor. The central legislative body is known as house of representative it was a single chamber legislative. 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. With respect to details, this 1951 constitution was a watered down. Following another convincing election victory by nkrumahs party in 1956, gold coast became the first subsaharan african state to gain independence aside from apartheid south africa on 6 march 1957, changing its name to ghana. The establishment of a central executive council known as the council of ministers its membership included the governor as president. The constitution introduced a federal system of government by sharing government power between the centre and the regions. S ep t em b 1er, 979 printing of constitution, constituent assembly dissolved. Hopefully, this brochure gives you an insight into the characteristics of social democracy. The lyttleton constitution was enacted in 1954 and it established the federal principle and paved the way for independence.
Membership of the house of representative was increased to 184. There was no member of the executive council from nigeria. What are the features of the 1992 constitution of ghana. Act 527 constitution of the republic of ghana amendment act, 1996. In the united states of america usa, for example, they operate side by side and reinforce each other. Amendments not affecting law of ghana diplomatic immunities 1. Data on ghana introduction in addition to the data below, the links at the bottom of this page will provide you with more information. Lagos was carved out of the west and was made the federal capital. Will ghanas fourth attemptat constitutional democratic. The constitution shall come into force oll the 24th day of ment constitutionor. Gold coast under colonial rule 19021951 ghana schoolsnet. Former members of the ugcc went on to form the ghana congress party which later.
Nkrumah, still in jail, won a seat, and the cpp won an impressive victory with a twothirds majority of the 104 seats. The constitution divided the country into five administrative regions. 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. Features of the independence constitution of 1960 nigerian. Constitutional committee and the promulgation of the 1951 constitution. The constitution of 1951 resulted from the report of the coussey. Election to any post must be by direct and indirect methods. Sir hugh clifford enacted the clifford constitution in the year 1922, after the amalgamation of the southern and northern protectorates in 1914 the features of the clifford constitution of 1922. From 1957 1987 the 1957 constitution which gave birth to ghanas independence on the 6th of march 1957 also provided some reforms in the local government system. Functions of national development planning commission 60.
The constitution of nigeria is the supreme law of the federal republic of nigeria. The 1951 constitution of the gold coast was introduced by arden clarke. The african ejournals project has digitized full text of. Ghanas constitution of 1992 with amendments through 1996. For news about ghana, see accraexpats how to guide page how to keep posted with ghana news official name. Another new constitution was promulgated in 1954, followed by elections the same year, also won by the cpp.
In section four hundred and sixtyone of the income tax act. The evoluation of ghana law since independence assembly is curtailed, however, by the necessity for presidential assent before a bill can become effective, 6 by the prohibition of amendments of the annual estimates money bills submitted by the cabinet,7 and is at least qualified by the special. It retained the federal structure with the regions having residual powers. 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. Some of the features of the 1992 constitution of the republic of ghana are who has the right to vote, what rights are protected by the courts, and the procedures that must be followed by the. In 1951 the first largescale elections to the legislative assembly took place when 75 members were elected. At the elections held early in 1951, the convention peoples party. Since the first republican constitution in 1960, ghana has had three other constitutions. The earlier constitutions can be located in the historic. Viewed against this background, the remarkable feature of gold coast. The governorgeneral was made the ceremonial head of state.
Even so, ghana remains heavily dependent on international financial and technical. Postindependence constitutions background, main features, merits and demerits a nigeria independence constitution 1960, republican constitution 1963, the 1979 and 1989 constitutions. Constitution of the united states of america bill of. There were three nominated exofficio members and six special members representing. Nkrumah, still in jail, won a seat, and the cpp won an impressive victory with a twothirds. The ghanaian people are a nation originating in the ghanaian gold coast. Just like every other country, nigeria has it own law that is a constitution which is the highest law in every country. The constitution 1 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. On 1 july 1960 ghana became a republic and the republican constitution that provided that the monarch of united kingdom ceased to be ghanas head of state and there should be an elected president who was at once the head of state, executive head of government and a member of parliament. Salient features of the representation of peoples act.
Amendments to the constitution in 1960 transformed ghana into a republic under a president and set up one party state. Its report led to the 1951 constitution, which gave the executive council an african. These two principles of limiting governmental powers are not mutually exclusive. Those representing commercial interests and appointed by the governor were all white. The central executive is made up of the president, 6 exofficials members and 12 ministers. The constitution of ghana is the supreme law of the republic of ghana. Ag ghana constitution pages 1 50 text version fliphtml5. A guiding question for each lesson is included below each section. It established two legislative houses at both the federal and regional levels. Resources guide explore the links in the text of the constitution below to discover a variety of relevant, classroom ready, lessons and activities from the bill of rights institute. A highly accessible, easy to use app version of the constitution of ghana the supreme law of the republic of ghana.
In 1957 when ghana achieved full political independence, the constitution was fashioned after the westminster model. In february 1951, the first elections were held for the legislative assembly under the new constitution. The legislative features of the 1951 constitution were repeated in the. In ghana, stakeholder participation in basic education was given an impetus by the 1959 accelerated development plan, the education act of 1961, the local government act of 1988, the 1987 education reforms, the 1992 republican constitution of ghana, specifically provision on. Sep 18, 2018 the constitution of the republic of the republic of ghana 1992 1. In order to express the criticisms, the nationalists of the herbert macaulay and dr nnamdi azikiwe toured important towns in the country, educating the people on the political issues at stake and collecting donations to send a protest delegation to london. Well endowed with natural resources, ghana has roughly twice the per capita output of the poorest countries in west africa. The nigeria constitution is the highest law in nigeria, any law that is not consistent with the constitution is null and void. Features of lyttleton constitution of 1954 passnownow. The main features and limitations of the 1951 arden.
Besides setting up a parliamentary system of government, the 1957 constitution provided for the representation of chiefs and tribal authorities in the regional councils, converted the legislative assembly to the national assembly, and entrenched clauses relating to its amendments. Constitution of ghana wikisource, the free online library. This system continued until 1951 when the legislature elected its first speaker under the 1950 constitution. Although political organizations had existed in the british colony, the united gold coast convention ugcc was the first nationalist movement with the aim of selfgovernment in the shortest possible time. Ghanaians predominantly inhabit the republic of ghana, and are the predominant cultural group and residents of ghana, numbering 20 million people as of 20. As from the appointed day, the british nationality act, 1948, shall have effect a with the substitution in subsection 3 of section one thereof which provides for persons to be british subjects. Apr 14, 2020 d the gambia the 1947, 1951, 1954, 1960, 1962 and 1963 constitutions. Basics on social democracy friedrichebertstiftung ghana. The earlier constitutions can be located in the historic constitutions volume of constitutions of countries of the world. It was approved on 28 april 1992 through a national referendum after 92% support. Browse and navigate ghana constitution in easy, natural real time and advanced. 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.
Constitution allows parliament to make provisions in all matters relating to elections to the parliament and state legislatures. The constitution provided for an elected multiparty democratic parliament which shall consist of not less. What are the features of 1992 constitution of ghana answers. Every local church shall be, and remain, an assemblies of god, ghana church and shall be subject to this constitution b.
Past and present article pdf available in journal of education and human development 53. Its report led to the 1951 constitution, which gave the executive council an african majority, and created an 84member legislative assembly, 38 of whom were to be elected by the people, 37 representing territorial councils, six appointed to represent commercial interests and three ex officio members appointed by the governor. Article 324 to 329 of part xv of the constitution deals with the electoral system in our country. The 1955 transitional constitution provided for an assembly of a speaker and 104 members elected on party lines on the basis of universal adult suffrage. Elections for the legislative assembly were held for the first time in the gold coast on 8. 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 exercise of this power, the parliament has enacted laws like representation of the people act 1950 rpa act 1950, representation of the people act 1951 rpa act 1951. Constitution of the republic of ghana amendment act, 1996. The main features common to all the four parliamentary constitutions since independence are as follows. The 1992 constitution was approved by the overwhelming majority of the people of ghana. In some african countries, including ghana in 1969, 1979, and 1992, where the principle of. The constitution was approved in 1950 but it came into effect on first. In 1951 the first largescale elections to the legislative assembly took place when 75 members were. The constitution of the republic of the republic of ghana 1992 1. Clifford constitution of 1922 features, merits and demerits. Ghana constitution ejudgment eforms cause list election manual annual. The constitution introduced a parliamentary system of government. Though there are as many definitions of social democracy as there are social democrats, this brochure aims to give an introduction to this political ideology to which so many people from sweden to ghana and new zealand are committed. The features of the clifford constitution of 1922 there was no member of the executive council from nigeria all colonial governors were to report to the secretary of state for colonies who was a cabinet minister in britain. What are the features of the 1992 constitution of ghana answers.
66 442 849 1106 520 836 163 1327 56 359 1175 172 472 587 1017 123 874 270 1034 1500 349 1244 973 943 311 1035 2 1098 977 301 1421 984 35 367 1270