SUMMARY
Ghana gained independence from Britain in 1957. Under pan-African nationalist Kwame Nkrumah, leader of the popular Convention People’s Party (CPP) and first prime minister, a presidential republic was established in 1960 and Nkrumah was elected president. Several years on however, the country had deteriorated from corruption and foreign debts whilst President Nkrumah had installed a one-party state with the CPP with himself as president for life.
Subsequently, a military coup comprised of police and military leaders overthrew the regime of President Nkrumah in 1966 whilst he was abroad in Beijing. They replaced it with the National Liberation Council (NLC), which was led by Lieutenant General Joseph A. Ankrah. Through the NLC, the Government of Ghana implemented a series of policy reforms, drafted a new constitution and democratically elected a civilian government in 1969 with Kofi Busia, leader of the Progress Party, becoming prime minister and Edward Akufo-Addo as president. The new government quickly received recognition from states around the world.
However, the persisting economic crisis and increasing corruption led to continuing political turmoil and another military coup in 1972; a government of senior military figures was installed under Colonel Ignatius Kutu Acheampong. This lasted until 1978, when a referendum revealed the government’s lack of popularity and he was replaced by Lieutenant General Frederick W. K. Akuffo. Under the military government, economic and political progress continued to struggle despite strict controls such as all political parties being banned and military courts having authority to impose the death penalty for offences such as spreading rumors or damaging public property.
Accordingly, another military coup led by Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings overthrew the government in 1979 and reinstalled a civilian government by handing over power to Hula Limann as president. Yet again, limited progress by the civilian government led to a second military coup by Rawlings in 1981; this time the government was replaced with the Provisional National Defense Council (PNDC) and Rawlings maintained leadership as chairman (see Government of Ghana - Military faction (forces of Jerry John Rawlings)). The stated objective of the PNDC was to enable participation by previously oppressed opposition groups, draft a “people’s constitution” and pave the way for a return to a free and fair democracy. It also adopted measures to address the economic crisis.
Although Rawlings’ PNDC enjoyed widespread popular support, some opposed its restructuring of Ghanaian politics and economy and went into exile to establish resistance groups. The PNDC was faced with numerous coup attempts during subsequent years. One of these, in June 1983, reached the level of an armed conflict but the coup attempt was quickly quelled by the government forces (see Government of Ghana - Military faction (forces of Ekow Dennis and Edward Adjei-Ampofo)).
The promulgation of a new constitution restored multiparty democracy to Ghana in 1992, but Jerry John Rawlings continued to dominate Ghanaian politics and was twice elected to serve as President until 2001. Since 2001, the Government of Ghana has experienced several peaceful transitions of power between democratic elections and it has been led by the following presidents: John Kufuor (2001 – 2008), John Atta Mills (2008 – 2012), John Dramani Mahama (2012 – 2016) and Nana Akufo-Addo (2017 – incumbent).
The military forces of Ghana consist of the army, navy and air force. The number of personal in the armed forces has oscillated between 7000 and 16 000 since 1985.
