President of Ghana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids President of the Republic of Ghana
Presidential Standard of Ghana
Presidential Seal of Ghana
Incumbent John Mahama since 7 January 2025
Style	His Excellency
Residence	Jubilee House
Term length	Four years, renewable once
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Ghana (1992)
Inaugural holder	Kwame Nkrumah
Formation	1 July 1960; 65 years ago (1960-07-01)
Deputy	Vice President of Ghana
Salary	934,800 Ghanaian cedi/US$76,000 annually
Website	presidency.gov.gh ghana.gov.gh

The President of Ghana is a very important leader. They are the elected head of state and head of government for the country of Ghana. This means they lead the nation and its government. The president is also the commander-in-chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, which includes the army, navy, and air force.

The current President of Ghana is John Mahama. He won the 2024 presidential election and started his term on January 7, 2025. Before 1960, Ghana was part of the Commonwealth realms. The head of state was the Queen of Ghana, Elizabeth II. She was represented by a governor-general. In 1960, Ghana became a republic. The president then took over the roles of the Queen and the governor-general.

Becoming President of Ghana

To become president, a person must meet certain requirements. These rules are found in Ghana's 1992 Constitution.

Who Can Be President?

• They must be a citizen of Ghana by birth.
• They must be at least 40 years old.
• They must also be qualified to be a Member of Parliament. This means they meet the general rules for elected officials.

How Candidates Are Chosen

People who want to run for president need to submit special documents. These papers must be signed by at least two registered voters from every district in Ghana. Each candidate also names a vice presidential running mate.

How Long a President Serves

A president serves for a four-year term. They can only serve two terms in total. These terms can be one after another or separated by time. Jerry Rawlings was the first president to have these term limits apply to him in 2001.

What Happens if a President Cannot Serve?

If a president dies, resigns, or cannot do their job, the vice president takes over. They finish the rest of the president's term. If the vice president becomes president early in the term, they can only run for one more full term. If both the president and vice president cannot serve, the Speaker of Parliament becomes the acting president. Then, new elections must be held within three months.

The President's Oath

Before starting their job, the President of Ghana takes an oath. This is a special promise. The chief justice leads the oath ceremony. It happens in front of Parliament and the citizens of Ghana.

The president-elect says: "I, _______________ having been elected to the high office of President of the Republic of Ghana do (in the name of the Almighty God swear) (solemnly affirm) that I will be faithful and true to the Republic of Ghana; that I will at all times preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana; and that I dedicate myself to the service and well-being of the people of the Republic of Ghana and to do right to all manner of persons.

I further (solemnly swear) (solemnly affirm) that should I at any time break this oath of office; I shall submit myself to the laws of the Republic of Ghana and suffer the penalty for it. (So help me God)".

Presidential Symbols

After taking the oath, the new president receives special items called insignia. These items show their important role. They are used during special events.

• The President's Sword and the Presidential Seat are important symbols. The seat is made of carved wood and covered with gold. There is also a Presidential standard pole and a state sword.

What the President Does

The Constitution of Ghana explains the president's many duties and powers.

Presidential styles of John Dramani Mahama
Reference style	'His Excellency President of the Republic of Ghana"
Spoken style	Your Excellency"
Alternative style	Mr. President

President's Main Duties

The president is required to:

• Uphold and follow the Constitution of Ghana.
• Lead the executive branch of the government.
• Keep Ghana safe and protect its homeland.

President's Powers

The president also has many powers, such as:

• Being the commander-in-chief of the military.
• Having the power to declare war.
• Holding referendums on important national issues.
• Issuing executive orders to manage the government.
• Giving out medals to honor people who serve the nation.
• Granting pardons to people who have committed crimes.
• Declaring a state of emergency in times of crisis. This can temporarily change laws to keep the country safe.

The president can also sign treaties and agreements with other countries. They are the most important person in Ghana. The president can ask for a national vote on big policy matters. They can declare war or make peace. They also appoint important government officials. With Parliament's approval, they can grant amnesty. In serious times, like a national threat or economic crisis, the president can use emergency powers. This helps keep the country secure and peaceful.

How a President Can Be Removed

A president can be removed from office. This happens if they are found to be harmful to Ghana's economy or security. If Parliament votes to remove the president, they must leave office on that day.

The President's Aircraft

The official plane for the president is a Dassault Falcon 900. It has the registration number 9G-EXE. This plane was bought in 2010. It was updated in 2022 and started flying again in February 2023.

The presidential aircraft has stripes that match the colors of the flag of Ghana. The Ghanaian coat of arms is on the tail of the plane.

In 2011, the government tried to buy another plane, an Embraer 190. They made a payment of $55 million. However, it was later found that the jet was never delivered. There has been talk that the deal was canceled because the government did not make its payments.

Interesting Facts About Presidents

• The youngest person to become head of state was Jerry Rawlings. He was 31 years old when he took office after a coup d'état in 1979.
• The youngest civilian (non-military) head of state was Hilla Limann. He became president at age 44.
• The oldest person to become president was Nana Akufo-Addo. He was 72 when he started his term.
• Akwasi Afrifa was the youngest head of state when his time in office ended, at age 34.
• Fred Akuffo had the shortest lifespan of any head of state, living for 42 years.
• Nana Akufo-Addo was also the oldest head of state when his term ended, at 80 years old.
• Joseph Arthur Ankrah had the longest retirement of any head of state, lasting 23 years.
• John Kufuor, born on December 8, 1938, is the oldest of the three living heads of state. He is also the longest-lived head of state in Ghana's history.
• Kufuor and Nana Akufo-Addo are the only heads of state who have lived into their 80s.
• The youngest living head of state is John Mahama, born on November 29, 1958.

See also

In Spanish: Presidente de Ghana para niños

• Chief of Staff (Ghana)
• List of Ghanaian heads of state by age