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
Inaugural holder	Kwame Nkrumah Republic established Jerry Rawlings Current Constitution
Formation	Republic Day 1 July 1960 1992 Constitution 15 May 1992
Deputy	Vice President of Ghana
Salary	934,800 Ghanaian cedi/US$76,000 annually
Website	presidency.gov.gh ghana.gov.gh

The President of the Republic of Ghana is the top leader of Ghana. This person is chosen by the people to be both the head of state (the country's main representative) and the head of government (the person in charge of running the country). The president is also the commander-in-chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, meaning they lead the military.

The current president of Ghana is John Mahama. He won the 2024 presidential election and started his term on January 7, 2025.

Who Can Be President of Ghana?

To become president of Ghana, a person must meet certain rules set by the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. These rules help make sure the president is ready for the job.

Basic Requirements for President

• You must be a citizen of Ghana from birth. This means you were born in Ghana and are a Ghanaian citizen.
• You need to be at least 40 years old.
• You must also be able to be elected as a Member of Parliament. This means you meet the general rules for holding public office.

How Candidates Get Nominated

People who want to become president must submit a special document. This document needs to be signed by at least two registered voters from every district in Ghana. The document also includes the name of their chosen vice presidential running mate.

How Long Does a President Serve?

A president serves for a term of four years. A president can only serve for two terms in total. These two terms can be one after the other or at different times. For example, 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 passes away, resigns, becomes unable to do their job, or is removed from office, the vice president automatically becomes president. They finish the rest of the original president's term.

If the vice president takes over early in the term (before more than half of it is over), they can only run for one more full term as president. If both the president and vice president cannot do their jobs, the Speaker of Parliament steps in as acting president. Then, new elections must be held within three months.

Taking the Oath of Office

Before a new president can start their job, they must take an important promise called the Oath of Office. The Chief Justice leads this ceremony in front of the Parliament and the people of Ghana.

What the President Promises

The president-elect says a special set of words to promise their loyalty and dedication to Ghana. They promise to:

• Be faithful and true to Ghana.
• Always protect and defend the Constitution.
• Work for the good of all Ghanaians and treat everyone fairly.

They also promise to accept the laws of Ghana if they ever break this oath.

Special Symbols of Office

After taking the oath, the new president receives special items called insignia. These items show the importance of their role and are used on special occasions.

• The President's Sword and the Presidential Seat are examples. The Presidential Seat is a carved wooden chair covered with gold.

What the President Does

The Constitution of Ghana explains the many important jobs and powers of the president.

Presidential styles of Nana Akufo-Addo
Reference style	'His Excellency President of the Republic of Ghana"
Spoken style	Your Excellency"
Alternative style	Mr. President

Main Duties of the President

The president is responsible for several key things:

• Upholding the Constitution: Making sure the country's main laws are followed.
• Exercising executive authority: Leading the government and making sure laws are carried out.
• Preserving the safety and homeland of Ghana: Protecting the country and its people.

Powers of the President

The president has many powers to lead the country:

• Leading the executive branch of government: This is the part of government that carries out laws.
• Being the commander-in-chief of the military: Leading all the armed forces.
• Declaring war: Making the decision to go to war.
• Holding referendums: Letting the people vote on important national issues.
• Issuing executive orders: Giving official commands that have the force of law.
• Giving medals: Honoring people for their service to the nation.
• Issuing pardons: Forgiving people for crimes they committed.
• Declaring a state of emergency: Taking special powers during serious problems to keep the country safe.

The president can also sign agreements with other countries for Ghana. They are the most important person in Ghana and can ask for a national vote on big policy issues. They can declare war, make peace, appoint important government officials, and grant forgiveness for crimes (with Parliament's agreement).

If there are serious problems inside or outside the country, or big money troubles, the president can use emergency powers. This is to keep the country safe and peaceful.

Removing a President from Office

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

The President's Aircraft

The official airplane for the president is a Dassault Falcon 900. This plane was bought in 2010. It was updated in 2022 and started flying again in February 2023.

The presidential aircraft has the colors of the flag of Ghana in stripes. It also has the Ghanaian coat of arms on its tail.

In 2011, the government tried to buy another plane, an Embraer 190. They paid $55 million for it. However, in 2020, it was found that the plane was never delivered. Some people think the deal was canceled because the government did not make all its payments.

Timeline of Presidents Since 1960

Latest Presidential Election Results

The most recent election for president was held in 2024. Here are the results:

See Also

In Spanish: Presidente de Ghana para niños

• Chief of Staff (Ghana)