
Ghana

Ghana exhibits mid-range performance across all four categories of the Global State of Democracy Framework. It is among the top 25 per cent of countries with regard to several factors, including Elected Government, Civic Engagement and Freedom of Expression. Compared to five years prior, it has experienced significant declines in Access to Justice. Ghana is rich in natural resources, notably oil and gold. Since 2022, its economy, which relies mainly on services and agriculture, is experiencing its worst crisis in decades, resulting in record-high inflation and soaring cost of living.
Pre-colonial Ghana was hosted several ancient kingdoms, including the Akan states of Akwamus, Ashanti, and Fante, and the coastal Ga and Ewe states. European trade began with the Portuguese in the 15th century, Britain made the Gold Coast a Crown Colony in 1874. Ghana gained independence in 1957—the first sub-Saharan African country to do so—led by Kwame Nkrumah as its first prime minster and later president. Early socio-economic progress under Nkrumah was disrupted by a 1966 military coup, followed by decades of authoritarianism, coups, and military rule. Multi-party elections resumed in 1992, marking the start of Ghana’s democratic transition.
Since then, Ghana has held nine successful elections, with power alternating between the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP). While the 2012 and 2020 presidential elections were disputed and ultimately resolved by the Supreme Court, the peaceful transfer of power and use of legal channels to resolve disputes have largely contributed to political stability. However, the April 2025 suspensionof the Chief Justice following misconduct allegations has raised concerns about judicial independence and due process, as legal experts warn that vague legal grounds and procedural flaws could undermine safeguards against executive overreach.
Ghana is a multi-ethnic country, with the Akan as the largest group and significant minorities such as the Mole-Dagbani, Ewe, Ga-Dangme, and Gurma. The NPP draws its core support from Akan strongholds, especially in the Ashanti Region, while the NDC relies on the Ewes in the Volta Region and voters in northern Ghana. Winning presidential elections requires cross-ethnic coalitions, making ethnic and regional balance key in the formation of any government. Party politics is also characterized by ideological polarization between the center-right NPP and the center-left NDC.
Recent opinion data highlights declining satisfaction with Ghanaian democracy. Key public concerns include unemployment, economic management, and increasing living costs—heightened by the ongoing debt crisis and austerity measures. Corruption and governance problems have also prompted public anger and protests, with allegations of heavy-handed police responses.
Ghana has made some progress on gender equality in health and education, yet significant gaps remain in economic and political participation. In 2024, the country passed the long-awaited Affirmative Action bill, targeting at least 30 per cent representation of women in key sectors by 2030. Gender-based violence persists, rooted in poverty, power imbalances and cultural norms. LGBTQIA+ rights also face uncertainty, as a contentious anti-LGBTQIA+ rights bill was passed by parliament in 2024 but remains stalled due to legal challenges.
Looking ahead, key areas to monitor include Rule of Law, amid growing public discontent over corruption and recent developments that have raised concerns about judicial independence. Social Group Equality is also important to watch, especially regarding uncertainty around the anti-LGBTQIA+ rights bill passed by Parliament but not yet enacted.
Last updated: June 2025
https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/
April 2025
Chief Justice suspended amid political controversy
On 22 April, President John Mahama suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo following the submission of undisclosed petitions alleging misconduct. Torkornoo was initially denied access to the petitions — a step later rectified — raising concerns about due process. Acting on advice from the Council of State, Mahama determined that a prima facie case had been established and initiated a formal inquiry. The suspension of a sitting chief justice is the first of its kind under Ghana’s 1992 constitution. The opposition condemned the move as a ‘judicial coup’ and accused Mahama of attempting to reshape the judiciary in his party’s favour. A five-member committee has been formed to investigate the allegations. Torkornoo is Ghana's third female chief justice and was appointed in 2023 by former president Nana Akufo-Addo. The Ghana Bar Association described the move as ‘unconstitutional’ and has called for transparency and adherence to due process, warning that the episode could erode public trust in the judiciary.
Sources: Ghana Bar Association, Graphic Online, The Africa Report, Barron’s, British Broadcasting Corporation
December 2024
Opposition secures decisive victory in presidential and parliamentary elections
On 7 December, former President John Dramani Mahama won Ghana’s presidential election with 56.4 per cent of the vote, defeating Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, who secured 41.8 per cent. Voter turnout stood at 64.0 per cent, down from 79.0 per cent in 2020. The election also resulted in a strong parliamentary win for Mahama’s National Democratic Congress (NDC), which secured 186 of the 276 seats (67.4 per cent), giving it a two-thirds majority. The country will now have its first woman Vice-President, Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang. According to Ghana’s Electoral Commission, 12.8 per cent of parliamentary candidates in 2024 were women. Election results were initially delayed as political parties incited their supporters to gather in large numbers at collation centres. While Bawumia conceded on 8 December, reports of vandalism, looting, and property destruction led security forces to disperse crowds with tear gas and pepper spray. Observers from the African Union and the Commonwealth of Nations lauded the Electoral Commission for conducting a transparent and credible election.
Sources: Electoral Commission Ghana, African Union, Commonwealth Observer Group, The Africa Report, Africa Confidential, British Broadcasting Corporation, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation
September 2024
President signs affirmative action bill into law to boost gender equality
The President signed the long-awaited Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Bill into law on 19 September 2024, ending a process that began in 1998. The law’s primary objective is to improve women’s representation including by increasing the proportion of seats held by women in parliaments, local governments and managerial positions to a minimum of 30 per cent by 2030, with a longer-term goal of 50/50 gender balance. Today, women hold less than 15 per cent of parliamentary seats in Ghana. The law introduces mechanisms such as compliance certification and gender-responsive budgeting, along with support structures like political party mandates and committee oversight to enforce its goals. The law does not impose heavy penalties for noncompliance. This development has been hailed by the United Nations as a significant step in addressing gender disparities in Ghana, while gender scholars caution that full implementation and monitoring will be critical to ensuring its impact.
Sources: Parliament of Ghana, The Africa Report, Reuters, Inter-Parliamentary Union, United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, The Conversation, BBC
Nationwide protests call for electoral transparency and accountability
On 14 September, mass protests erupted across all 16 regions of Ghana, marking one of the largest demonstrations in recent years. Hundreds of thousands of people reportedly participated, demanding greater electoral transparency and accountability. The protests were sparked by accusations from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), which claimed the Electoral Commission had manipulated the voter register ahead of the 7 December 2024 general elections. The NDC raised concerns about missing names, irregularities, and the inclusion of over 50,000 deceased individuals on the voter roll. In response, the opposition called for an independent forensic audit of the voter roll and a bipartisan probe into the Electoral Commission’s conduct. Despite the Electoral Commission’s denial of wrongdoing, the scale and geographic spread of the protests highlight growing public demand for electoral reforms.
Sources: The Africa Report (1), The Africa Report (2), Jeune Afrique, BBC, AP News
Widespread protests escalate over illegal mining crisis
On 30 September, a coalition of civil society organizations, labor unions, media outlets, and religious leaders staged a three-day protest in Ghana, demanding stricter enforcement of laws against illegal mining, known locally as “galamsey”. While galamsey has long been an issue that has severely degraded the environment over the years, these protests are significant for the unprecedented involvement of such a wide range of actors. Protesters called for a state of emergency in affected areas, the removal of illegal miners, and the revocation of mining licenses. The environmental toll, including poisoned rivers and deforestation, threatens livelihoods and water sources for millions. The government clashed with protesters, leading to dozens of arrests and raising concerns about the suppression of dissent. Galamsey has been blamed for polluting 60 per cent of Ghana’s water bodies, with analysts warning the country may need to import water by 2030 if the crisis continues.
Sources: ISS Africa, The Africa Report, Africa News, Jurist News, BBC
February 2024
Parliament passes new LGBTQIA+ law; President asks Court to rule on its constitutionality
On 28 February, the Parliament passed a law that would impose new penalties not only on same-sex sexual acts (up to five years in prison), but also on people who are open about a non-heterosexual orientation (up to three years in prison). The law, entitled the Promotion of Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, had its first reading in Parliament in 2021, but received a great deal of opposition within Ghana and abroad. Ghana’s Finance Minister warned the government that approval of the law could endanger funding from the World Bank on which Ghana’s economic health depends. On 5 March, President Nana Akufo-Addo stated that he will not assent to the law and give it legal force until after a review of its constitutionality by the Supreme Court.
Update: On 18 December, Ghana’s Supreme Court dismissed a legal challenge seeking to block the anti-LGBTQIA+ bill from proceeding in Parliament but did not rule on its constitutionality, leaving the decision to the President. Outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo deferred the bill to his successor, John Dramani Mahama, who was sworn in on 7 January. During his first week in office, Mahama declared the bill void as it was not signed before Parliament’s term ended, suggesting it be reintroduced as a government-backed bill, rather than a Private Members’ Bill, with broader national consensus.
Sources: Ghanaian Times, Pulse, Business Ghana, Ghana Web, The Africa Report, Modern Ghana
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