1951 constitution of ghana pdf

Ghana constitution 1960 preliminary note by francis bennion the following is the text of the 1960 ghana constitution, the first constitution of the country after it became an independent republic by virtue of the ghana independence act 1957. Whereas it is expedient to make provision for citizenship of pakistan. Compulsory land acquisition and compensation in ghana. Constitution of actionaid international ghana aaig name of the organisation 1. Article 2 1 this constitution is the supreme and fundamental law of liberia and its provisions shall have binding force and effect on all authorities and persons throughout the republic. The 1916 clifford constitution the clifford constitution of. The constitution of 1951 resulted from the report of the coussey committee, created because of disturbances in accra and other cities in 1948. The information has been carefully selected and compiled from unhcrs global network of field. These two principles of limiting governmental powers are not mutually exclusive. Elections took place in 1951, and the following year nkrumah became the countrys first premier. The constitution of january 1, 1951, resulted from the report of the coussey committee, created because of disturbances in accra and other cities in 1948. History of the parliament of ghana ghana homepage, resource. The 1954 transitional constitution provided for an assembly of a speaker and 104 members elected on party lines on the basis of universal adult suffrage. Constitution of the international rice commission the constitution of the international rice commission irc, which was approved in principle by the fao council in april 1948, was formally approved by the fao conference at its fourth session november 1948.

In 1960 ghana became a republic, with nkrumah as president, and in 1964 a oneparty state, the cpp being the sole authorised party. Clifford constitution of 1922 features, merits and demerits. Its report led to the 1951 constitution, which gave the executive council an african. The importance of a constitution in any given society cannot be overemphasized. In 1957 when ghana achieved full political independence, the constitution was fashioned after the westminster model. And whereas the people of ghana approved the said constitution for the administration of ghana to come into force on 7th day of january, 1993.

Those representing commercial interests and appointed by the governor were all white. Resources guide explore the links in the text of the constitution below to discover a variety of relevant, classroom ready, lessons and activities from the bill of rights institute. In 1957, when the leaders of the former british colony of the gold coast sought an appropriate name for their newly independent statethe first black african nation to gain its independence from colonial rulethey named their new country after ancient ghana. The african ejournals project has digitized full text of. Gold coast under colonial rule 19021951 yaa asantewaa partly as a result of the several administrative, judicial, financial and social measu. Following years of british rule that lasted from the early 19th century. Ghana succumbed to attacks by its neighbors in the 11th century, but its name and reputation endured. In the united states of america usa, for example, they operate side by side and reinforce each other. Ghana country history and economic development, information. The 1955 transitional constitution provided for an assembly of a speaker and 104 members elected on party lines on the basis of universal adult suffrage. The 1925 constitution had lingered on for twentyone years.

It will help us to understand why ghanas current constitution recognizes chieftaincy administration, but government is constitutionally. Ghanas constitution of 1992 with amendments through 1996. Ugbs 105 introduction to public administration session 6the public administration system in ghana. The name of the organisation is actionaid international ghana and shall hereinafter be called the organisation. Amendments to the constitution in 1960 transformed ghana into a republic under a president and set up one party state. Traditional authorities managed to enter into alliances with a number of political authorities during the apartheid period. Ghana was the first african country south of the sahara to gain its independence. History of nigerian constitutional development the.

The constitution of 1951 resulted from the report of the coussey. The independence of ghana in law, as in politics, the year 1957 will stand out as a landmark in the history of the commonwealth. Kwame nkrumah assumed office with respect to the promulgation of a new constitution i n 1951. The constitution permitted the formation of political parties in nigeria so as to ensure greater participation of nigerians in their government. The laws of ghana shall comprise a this constitution. Both the burns constitution of 1946 and the coussey committees recommendations which formed the basis for the constitution of 1951 altered the structure of government by increasing the number of african representatives. Poverty is a problem in the country of ghana but with your. Section 9particulars to be given on request every person who occupies any office or shop to which this act applies shall, if so requested by an inspector, within one month serve on the chief inspector a notice containing the particulars set out in the third schedule.

Loan contraction and debt management in ghana 12 afrodad executive summary when ghana gained its independence from britain in 1957, the economy appeared stable and prosperous. In some african countries, including ghana in 1969, 1979, and 1992, where the principle of. The aftermath of asante or sagrenti war of 1874 which led to the landmark introduction of the gold coast constitution of 1874 and the annexation of the asante kingdom to become a british protectorate in 1885, can hardly be overlooked by history enthusiasts and constitutional lawyers. Sir hugh clifford enacted the clifford constitution in the year 1922, after the amalgamation of the southern and northern protectorates in 1914 the features of the clifford constitution of 1922. Download free pdf copy of the 1999 nigerian constitution as amended. The policy of centralization was consistent with the july 1960 constitution that declared ghana a republic. There were three nominated exofficio members and six special members representing. The governor ceased to be exofficio president of the legislative council and an unofficial member was appointed president. The constitution of 1969 confirmed the constitutional status of chiefs and that of.

Besides setting up a parliamentary system of government, the 1957 constitution provided for the representation of chiefs and tribal authorities in the regional councils, converted the legislative assembly to the national assembly, and entrenched clauses relating to its amendments. Elections for the legislative assembly were held for the first time in the gold coast on 8. In the pursuit of it object actionaid international ghana shall affiliate with other actionaid international bodies. Ghana is a unitary state with a unicameral legislature. So was the executive council, which was headed by the governorship. Its report led to the 1951 constitution, which gave the executive council an african majority, and created an 84member legislative assembly, 38 of whom were to be elected by the people, 37 representing territorial councils, six appointed to represent commercial interests and three ex officio members appointed by the governor. With respect to details, this 1951 constitution was a watereddown. A guiding question for each lesson is included below each section. Refworld contains a vast collection of reports relating to situations in countries of origin, policy documents and positions, and documents relating to international and national legal frameworks. Provided that this subsection shall not extend to ghana as part of the law thereof. Only provisions relating to aliens and asylum are selected here. Under the new constitution, the ruling convention peoples party cpp was also designated as the only legal national political party. Independence the politics of the independence movements although political organisations had existed in the british colony, the united gold coast convention ugcc was the first nationalist. Article 11 of the 1992 constitution of ghana states.

In 1951 the first largescale elections to the legislative assembly took place when 75 members were elected. In addition to giving the executive council a large majority of african ministers, it created an assembly, half the elected members of which were to come from the towns and rural districts. The pakistan citizenship act, 1951 ii of 1951 th april, 1951 an act to provide for pakistan citizenship preamble. The guggiserg constitution the guggisberg constitution of 1925 was written in reaction to increasing dissatisfaction with the clifford constitution of 1916. Constitution of the republic of ghana amendment act, 1996. Ghanaians campaign for independence from british rule, 1949 1951 mainly or initiated by people of color. On march 6, ghana becomes the first african country to gain independence from european control, with nkrumah as prime minister. With respect to details, this 1951 constitution was a watered down. Constitutional committee and the promulgation of the 1951 constitution. The constitution shall come into force oll the 24th day of. Ghana independence constitution, 1957 republican constitution 1960. Kingsley adjei abstract this paper discusses the role and challenges to the chieftaincy institution in the attainment of peace in ghana. The cpp wins elections for legislative assembly while nkrumah is in jail. This is an unofficial translation as published in khadduri, by majid, modern libya, the john hopkins press, baltimore, 1963, p.

The 1951 constitution retained the governor as the head of the executive. The clifford constitution brought the elective principle into nigeria which paved way for elective representation of nigerians into the legislative council. The policy document takes its source from national legal documents including the 1992 constitution of the republic of ghana. From 1957 1987 the 1957 constitution which gave birth to ghanas independence on the 6th of march 1957 also provided some reforms in the local government system. This constitution represents an early attempt to curve out a system of government that is representative of the people of the gold coast. The 1946 constitution was thought to be the most advanced constitution in tropical africa.

The 1954 constitution provided for a legislative assembly of. The 1916 clifford constitution the clifford constitution of 1916 established a legislative council that was dominated by official members, all of whom were europeans. Refworld is the leading source of information necessary for taking quality decisions on refugee status. In addition to giving the executive council a large majority of african ministers, it created an assembly, half the elected members of which were to. Its successor, produced by the now philoprogenitive colonial office in 1950,lo pointed the way ahead to independence. Although ghana s national government was originally founded on a british parliamentary model, the current constitution follows an american tricameral system. Education was defined as the primary responsibility of the national government.

The macpherson constitution established a central legislative council and a central executive council for the country. As a result of this, the institution subjected itself to manipulation by the ruling party, which was the nationalist party government. Ghanas 1992 constitution provide for the existence of political. At the elections held early in 1951, the convention peoples party. Whereas the said draft constitution was submitted to a national referendum held throughout ghana on the 28th april, 1992. Constitution of the united states of america bill of. Constitution, to cause their public servants to leave office and to fill vacancies by regular elections and appointments. Culture of ghana history, people, clothing, traditions. The british trusteeship, the western portion of the former german colony, had been linked to the gold coast since 1919. The 1916 clifford constitution the clifford constitution. The constitution, in nigerias situation, is the supreme law of the land which all. The 1992 constitution provides for one parliament, which exercises all primary legislative functions. Here is some general information about you new host country the flag the coat of arms the national anthem maps data on ghana introduction geography climate people education history ghanas presidents government and political conditions economy foreign relations links the flag of ghana.

These ghana facts and statistics provide a good picture of the reality of poverty and how child sponsorship through compassion is making a difference. This system continued until 1951 when the legislature elected its first speaker under the 1950 constitution. The final resting place of the greatest african and founder of the convention peoples party, is in a marble mausoleum in a beautiful memorial park on the site of the polo ground in accra, where kwame nkrumah declared the independence of ghana on 6 march 1957. Constitution of the federal republic of nigeria pdf download. Finally, the way forward will be discussed and some conclusions drawn. Former members of the ugcc went on to form the ghana congress party which later. It pro vided for a legislative assembly of eightyfour members of whom. He could refuse to give his assent to any bill by the unofficial majority. There was no member of the executive council from nigeria.

The constitution entered into force on 24 december 1951, in accordance wih article 44. The country is a multiparty democracy organized under an elected president, a legislature, and an independent judiciary. The constitution shall come into force oll the 24th day of ment constitutionor. Although political organizations had existed in the british colony, the united gold coast convention ugcc was the first nationalist movement with the aim of selfgovernment in the shortest possible time. The constitution divided the country into five administrative regions. Origin of chieftaincy in ghana in the main, chieftaincy in ghana originated from three sources abotchie in odotei and. Searching for alternative policies and strategies figfaocng international seminar on state and public sector land management verona, italy, september 910, 2008 221 as well as land sales by land owners in informal markets at low prices in anticipation of expropriation. New constitution grants broad powers to nkrumahs government. Poverty is a problem in the country of ghana but with your support, compassion is working to change this. Gold coast under colonial rule 19021951 ghana schoolsnet. Ghanaians campaign for independence from british rule. Ghana achieved independence within the commonwealth on 6 march 1957. This complete constitution has been generated from excerpts of texts from the repository of the comparative constitutions project, and distributed on. The ghana independence act, 1957, has made provision for cc the attainment by the gold coast of fully responsible status within the british commonwealth.

There is a council of state, which is an advisory body to the president. Sir emmanuel quist, the first unofficial african member, was elected speaker of the legislative assembly under the 1951 constitution. The outcome of aitken watson committee 1948 and coussey committee 1949 was this constitution, which came into force on 1. The central legislative council known as the house of representatives consisted of.

Modern ghana, formerly know as the gold coast, was the first country in sub saharan to gain political independence from colonial rule in 1956. Another new constitution was promulgated in 1954, followed by elections the same year, also won by the cpp. The constitution uses the words, enstooled and enskinned to denote installation. Following another convincing election victory by nkrumahs party in 1956, gold coast became the first subsaharan african state to gain independence aside from apartheid south africa on 6 march 1957, changing its name to ghana. However, less than a year later, nkrumah was removed by military coup, the first of four coups. Parliament of ghana a historical background of the. Arden clarke 1951 nkrumah 1954 c sierra leone features, merits and demerits slatter 1924 stevenson 1947 beresford stooke 1951 the 1956 and 1958 constitutions. After the operation of richard constitution, macpherson constitution was introduced in 1951. On 1 july 1960 ghana became a republic and the republican constitution that provided that the monarch of united kingdom ceased to be ghana s head of state and there should be an elected president who was at once the head of state, executive head of government and a member of parliament. He is released to become leader of the executive council and the legislature. Ghana nkrumahs party now the convention peoples party ccp won 1951 elections. The process aimed at african representation had begun as early as the 1920s and under the postworld war ii constitution african parties were allowed to.