Politics and Elections

Concise History of Presidential Elections and Military Regimes in Ghana

Presidential elections and military regimes in Ghana have had their individual and collective impact on the nation. Elections in Ghana date back to the colonial era, but for the purpose of this writeup, we touch on Ghana’s elections and coups that have brought Ghana this far.

Ghana, the former Gold Coast and a colony of Britain that gained independence in 1957, was to become the beacon of Africa in the political and economic landscape, and to help propel the continued libration of other African countries through the works of Dr. Kwamr Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president.
However, many challenges in the country’s governance and prevailing conditions caused Ghana to move from one way of electing its leadership through democratic means to military regimes and even one-party states.

The political situation in Ghana since independence for historical purposes is worth a glance.

Ghana gained independence and became a democratic state in 1957, but this only lasted until 1958 because Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the country’s leader, introduced what was known as restricted democratic practice from that year until 1964.

This gradually made Ghana, from 1964 to 1966, a one-party state with the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) in power.

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Presidential Elections and military regimes in Ghana kept changing hands, and so 1966–1969 saw Ghana migrate into a period of military regime. Thus, the National Liberation Council (NLC) led Ghana, and there was a widespread belief that the CIA-supported coup d’état, Ghana’s first, was against the civilian government under Kwame Nkrumah.

Ghana returned to democracy and democratic rule between 1969 and 1972, but in 1972, it returned to a military regime. This continued until 1979, when Hilla Limann (PNP) won the presidency. However, just two years later, Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings and some air force members overthrew him in another coup. The first attempt failed, but the second one was a success.

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Ghana continued to switch between military and civilian rule from 1979–1981, 1981–1992, and became known from 1992–1996 as an emerging democracy.

Since 1992, presidential elections and military regimes in Ghana have stopped swapping, giving way to the 4th republic. Ghana has continued to practice democratic governance and is looking forward to an important general election on December 7, 2020.

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FAQs:

When will Ghana hold its next democratic election?

On December 7th, 2020, Ghana will hold its next democratic elections. The contest will primarily pit the ruling New Patriotic Party against the National Democratic Congress (NDC), with the outcome favoring the NPP under President Nana Addo.

As we prepare for another intriguing election on December 7, 2024, Ghana is undoubtedly at a turning point.

Source: ElectionsinGhana