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This article lists political parties in Ghana .
Ghana has a multi-party system. However, there are two dominant political parties: the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party. It is extremely difficult for anyone to achieve electoral success under the banner of any other party. [1]
Political parties in Ghana are regulated under the Political Parties Act 574 passed in 2000. This spells out how political parties may be founded, registered and operated. It also specifies how political parties may be funded in Ghana. [2]
As at June 2024, there are 27 political parties according to the Electoral Commission of Ghana. [3] [4] Of these, a total of 11 parties indicated their willingness to participate in the political programmes by the state broadcaster, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation leading up to the 2020 Ghanaian general election. [5] In 2018, there were 24 political parties listed on the website. [6] There were 30 registered political parties on the list of the Electoral Commission of Ghana during the Fourth Republic in 2012. [7] [8]
| Name | Abbr. | Founded | Leader | Political position | Ideology | MPs | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | New Patriotic Party | NPP | 1992 | Nana Akufo-Addo | Centre-right | Liberal conservatism Conservatism Liberalism | 137 / 275 | |
 | National Democratic Congress | NDC | 1992 | Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo | Centre-left | Social democracy | 137 / 275 | |
The following parties were on the list of parties of the Electoral Commission of Ghana but not represented in parliament.
| Name | Abbr. | Founded | Leader | Political position | Ideology | MPs | Last election | Comments | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All People's Congress | APC | 2016 | Hassan Ayariga | 0 | 2024 | Split from PNC | ||||
| Convention People's Party | CPP | 1949 1996 | Nana Frimpomaa Sarpong Kumankumah [9] | 0 | 2024 | Banned 1966, reformed 1996 | ||||
| Democratic Freedom Party | DFP | 2006 | Obed Asamoah | N/A | 2008 | Merged with NDC in 2012 [10] | ||||
| Democratic People's Party | DPP | 1992 | Thomas Nuako Ward-Brew | 2016 | No candidates in 2020 | |||||
| Great Consolidated Popular Party | GCPP | 1995 | Daniel Augustus Lartey [11] | 0 | 2024 | |||||
| Ghana Democratic Republican Party | GDRP | 1992 | Kofi Amoah | N/A | Not involved in 2020 election | |||||
| Ghana Freedom Party | GFP | 2012 | Akua Donkor [9] | 0 | 2020 | |||||
| Ghana National Party | GNP | 2007 | Kobina Amo-Aidoo | 2008 | Not involved in 2020 election | |||||
| Ghana Union Movement | GUM | 2019 | Christian Kwabena Andrews [11] | 0 | 2024 | |||||
| Liberal Party of Ghana | LPG | 2017 | Kofi Akpaloo [12] | 0 | 2024 | |||||
| National Democratic Party | NDP | 2012 | Mohammed Frimpong [11] | 0 | 2024 | Split from NDC | ||||
| National Reform Party | NRP | 1999 | Peter Kpordugbe | 2004 | Split from NDC Not involved in 2020 election | |||||
| New Vision Party | NVP | 2008 | Daniel Yaw Nkansah | Not involved in 2020 election | ||||||
| People's Destiny Party | PDP | Not involved in 2020 election | ||||||||
| People's National Convention | PNC | 1992 | Bernard Mornah [11] | 0 | 2020 | |||||
| Power Unity Party | PUP | 2019 | Eliahu Boateng | N/A | Not involved in 2020 election | |||||
| Progressive Alliance for Ghana | PAG | 2024 | John Enyonam Kwakwu Kpikpi [11] | N/A | Nkrumah tradition | |||||
| Progressive People's Party | PPP | 2012 | Kofi Asamoah Siaw [11] | 0 | 2020 | |||||
| Reformed Patriotic Democrats | RPD | 2007 | N/A | 2008 | Not active in 2020 election | |||||
| United Democratic Party | UDP | Yaw Kumey | N/A | Not involved in 2020 election | ||||||
| United Development System Party | UDSP | 2012 | Tetteh Kabraham Early | N/A | Not active in 2020 election | |||||
| United Front Party | UFP | 2011 | N/A | No candidates in 2020 election | ||||||
| United Ghana Movement | UGM | 1996 | Charles Wereko-Brobby | 2000 | Not active in 2020 election | |||||
| United Progressive Party | UPP | 2016 | Akwasi Addai Odike | 0 | 2020 | |||||
| United Renaissance Party | URP | 2007 | Eric Charles Kofi Wayo | N/A | Not active in 2020 election | |||||
| Yes People's Party | YPP | 2012 | Annin – Kofi Addo | N/A | 2012 | Not active in 2020 election | ||||
| Parties in bold have been involved with the 2024 election process so far | ||||||||||
The following parties were formally active in the fourth republic but are no more registered with the Electoral Commission of Ghana.
| Name | Abbr. | Founded | Leader | Political position | Ideology | Last election | Comments | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere | EGLE | 1992 | Nana Yaw Boakye Ofori Atta | 2004 | Backed NDC in 2020 election | |||||
| Ghana Redevelopment Party | GRP | |||||||||
| Independent People's Party | IPP | 2011 | Kofi Akpaloo | Dissolved in 2017 | ||||||
| National Convention Party | NCP | 1992 | Kow Nkensen Arkaah | Nkrumaism | 1996 | Merged with PCP to reform CPP in 1996 [13] | ||||
| National Independence Party | NIP | 1992 | Kwabena Darko | Nkrumaism | 1992 Presidential only | Boycotted 1992 parliamentary election. Merged with PHP in 1993, forming PCP | ||||
| People's Action Party | PAP | Imoru Ayarna | 1969 | Not involved in 2020 election | ||||||
| People's Convention Party | PCP | 1993 | Festus Busia | Nkrumaism | Merged with NCP to reform CPP in 1996 | |||||
| People's Heritage Party | PHP | 1992 | Emmanuel Erskine | Nkrumaism | 1992 Presidential only | Boycotted 1992 parliamentary election. Merged with NIP in 1993, forming PCP | ||||
| United Love Party | ULP | 2008 | Ramon Osei Akoto | Could not contest 2008 or 2012 elections | Split from NDC | |||||
During the Third Republic, the following list of parties contested the 1979 general election. The All People's Party was a merger of the opposition parties in parliament formed later. All parties in the Third Republic were banned following the military coup d'etat on 31 December 1981. There would be continuous military rule until after the 1992 general election.
| Name | Abbr. | Founded | Leader | Political position | Ideology | MPs | Last election | Comments | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Action Congress Party | ACP | 1979 | Frank Bernasko | 10 | 1979 | |||||
| All People's Party | APP | 1979 | Victor Owusu | 1979 | Merger of the parties in opposition- PFP, UNC, SDF and TFP | |||||
| People's National Party | PNP | 1979 | Hilla Limann | Nkrumah tradition | 71 | 1979 | Offshoot of CPP / NAL | |||
| Popular Front Party | PFP | 1979 | Victor Owusu | Danquah/Busia tradition | 42 | 1979 | offshoot of Progress Party | |||
| Social Democratic Front | SDF | 1979 | Ibrahim Mahama | 3 | 1979 | |||||
| Third Force Party | TFP | 1979 | John Bilson | 0 | 1979 | |||||
| United National Convention | UNC | 1979 | William Ofori Atta | 13 | 1979 | |||||
The Second Republic spanned the period from October 1969 to 13 January 1972. This was the period when the Progress Party came to power with Kofi Busia as Prime Minister and Akufo-Addo as ceremonial President. It ended with the military coup d'état which brought the National Redemption Council military government into power. All political parties were banned.
| Name | Abbr. | Founded | Leader | Political position | Ideology | MPs | Last election | Comments | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All People's Republican Party | APRP | 1969 | P. K. K. Quaidoo | 1 | 1969 | |||||
| Justice Party | JP | 1970 | E. R. T. Madjitey | — | merger of NAL, PAP and UNP | |||||
| National Alliance of Liberals | NAL | 1969 | K. A. Gbedemah | 29 | 1969 | offshoot of CPP as CPP was banned | ||||
| People's Action Party | PAP | 1969 | Imoru Ayarna | 2 | 1969 | merged with NAL and UNP to form Justice Party | ||||
| Progress Party | PP | 1969 | K. A. Busia | 105 | 1969 | offshoot of United Party | ||||
| United Nationalist Party | UP | 1969 | H. S. Bannerman | 2 | 1969 | merged with NAL and PAP to form Justice Party | ||||
| Name | Abbr. | Founded | Leader | Political position | Ideology | MPs | Last election | Comments | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Convention People's Party | CPP | 1949 | Kwame Nkrumah | 198 | 1965 | Nkrumah tradition | ||||
| Federation of Youth Organization | FYO | Modesto Apaloo | 1 | 1956 | Merged into United Party in 1957 | |||||
| Ga Shifimo Kpee | GSK | 1957 | 0 | — | Merged into United Party in 1957 | |||||
| Muslim Association Party | MAP | 1954 | Cobina Kessie | 1 | 1956 | Merged into United Party in 1957 | ||||
| National Liberation Movement | NLM | 1954 | Baffour Osei Akoto | 12 | 1956 | Merged into United Party in 1957 | ||||
| Northern People's Party | NPP | 1954 | S.D. Dombo | 15 | 1956 | Merged into United Party in 1957 | ||||
| Togoland Congress | TC | 1951 | S. G. Antor | 2 | 1956 | Merged into United Party in 1957 | ||||
| United Party | UP | 1957 | K. A. Busia | — | Merger of all opposition parties in parliament | |||||
Ghanaian natives were allowed to stand for elections into the Legislative Assembly. There were elections held in 1951, 1954 and 1956 prior to the United Kingdom granting Ghana independence.
| Name | Abbr. | Founded | Leader | Political position | Ideology | MPs | Last election | Comments | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anlo Youth Organisation | AYO | 1952 | Modesto Apaloo | 1 | 1954 | |||||
| Convention People's Party | CPP | 1949 | Kwame Nkrumah | 71 | 1956 | Nkrumah tradition, split from UGCC | ||||
| Federation of Youth Organization | FYO | Modesto Apaloo | 1 | 1956 | Merged into United Party in 1957 | |||||
| Ghana Congress Party | GCP | 1952 | K. A. Busia | 1 | 1954 | Merged into NLM | ||||
| Muslim Association Party | MAP | 1954 | Cobina Kessie | 1 | 1956 | Merged into United Party in 1957 | ||||
| National Democratic Party | NDP | 1950 | Nii Amaa Ollennu | right wing | 0 | 1951 | merged with UGCC in 1952 to form the GCP | |||
| National Liberation Movement | NLM | 1954 | Baffour Osei Akoto | 12 | 1956 | Merged into United Party in 1957 | ||||
| Northern People's Party | NPP | 1954 | S. D. Dombo | 15 | 1956 | Merged into United Party in 1957 | ||||
| Togoland Congress | TC | 1951 | S. G. Antor | 2 | 1956 | Merged into United Party in 1957 | ||||
| United Gold Coast Convention | UGCC | 1947 | Paa Grant | 3 | 1951 | merged with NDP in 1952 to form GCP | ||||
Politics of Ghana takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the president of Ghana is both head of state and head of government, and of a two party system. The seat of government is at Golden Jubilee House. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and Parliament. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
The Government of Ghana was created as a parliamentary democracy, followed by alternating military and civilian governments in Ghana. In January 1993, military government gave way to the Fourth Republic after presidential and parliamentary elections in late 1992. The 1992 constitution divides powers among a president, parliament, cabinet, council of state, and an independent judiciary. The government is elected by universal suffrage.
Jerry John Rawlings was a Ghanaian military officer, aviator and politician who led the country for a brief period in 1979, and then from 1981 to 2001. He led a military junta until 1993, and then served two terms as the democratically elected president of Ghana. He was the longest-serving leader in Ghana's history, presiding over the country for 19 years.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is a social democratic political party in Ghana, founded by Jerry Rawlings, who was Head of State in Ghana from 1981 to 1993. He became the President of Ghana from 1993 to 2001. Following the formation of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), which ruled Ghana following the military coup d'état on 31 December 1981, there was pressure from the international community to restore democracy. The NDC was formed as the ruling party ahead of elections in 1992, in which Rawlings was elected president, and in 1996 Rawlings was re-elected as the NDC candidate. Rawlings' second term ended in 2001.
The Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) is the official body in Ghana responsible for all public elections. Made up of seven members and there are seven (7) functional departments at the Head Office. Each department is headed by a Director who is assisted by Unit Heads. The departments are:- Electoral services; Human Resource; Finance; Training; Administration; Research, Monitoring & Evaluation; Information Technology. its independence is guaranteed by the 1992 Ghana constitution. The current commission was established by the Electoral Commission Act (Act 451) of 1993. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan was the first substantive chairman of the commission in the Fourth Republic of Ghana, from 1993 to 2015. He was succeeded by Charlotte Osei as the first female chairman of the commission from 2015 to June 2018. Jean Adukwei Mensah succeeded Charlotte Osei in July 2018. On December 5, 2018, the Electoral commission chaired by Jean Adukwei Mensah reverted to the old logo showing the Coat of arms of Ghana and a ballot box showing the hand casting its votes, after the controversy over the new logo.
Pusiga is one of the constituencies represented in the Parliament of Ghana. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election. Pusiga is located in the Pusiga district of the Upper East Region of Ghana. Pusiga is part of the northern part of Ghana.
Ghana gained independence from the British on 6 March 1957. It is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The country became a republic on July 1, 1960.
Progressive People's Party (PPP) is a political party in Ghana. It was formed in 2012 by Paa Kwesi Nduom, a businessman, politician and a former presidential candidate for the Convention People's Party during the 2008 general election. The PPP pulled 64,267 popular votes in the 2012 general elections with Papa Kwesi Nduom as a flagbearer and Brigitte Dzogbenuku as the running mate, making it the third-largest party and the second-largest opposition party in Ghana.
The National Reconciliation Commission was established in January 2002 by the Parliament of Ghana. The goal of the commission was to establish an "accurate, complete and historical record of violations and abuses of human rights inflicted on persons by public institutions and holders of public office during periods of unconstitutional government." The Commission was formed after a new democratic party won the elections in 2000. The Commission covered human rights violations in Ghana from 1957 to 1993. It looked into government abuses and military coups staged by former president Jerry Rawlings. The members of the Commission worked until the end of 2004.
The Ghana Democratic Republican Party is a political party registered in Ghana. It was founded in 1992. Its current leader is Kofi Amoah. It holds no seats in parliament at present.
The Yes People's Party is a political party in Ghana. It was founded in 2012. Its leader is Annin – Kofi Addo. Its offices are based at Dansoman, a suburb of Accra. It was registered in September 2012 by the Electoral Commission of Ghana. Though it fielded a candidate, one Courage Kwame Mensah Azumah in 2012 for the Ketu South Constituency, it could not win the parliamentary seat. It however was unable to field candidates during the Ghanaian general election, 2016.
General elections were held in Ghana on 7 December 2020. Incumbent President Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was re-elected in the first round after securing a majority of the votes. Former President John Dramani Mahama announced that he would contest the results. At the Supreme Court, a petition challenging the result was filed on 30 December, and unanimously dismissed on 4 March 2021 for lack of merit.
The Reformed Patriotic Democrats is a political party in Ghana. It was founded in 2004 and registered with the Electoral Commission of Ghana in 2008. Although it was not involved with the 2020 Ghanaian general election, it is still listed on the website of the commission as a registered party.
The United Renaissance Party is a Ghanaian political party registered with the Electoral Commission of Ghana. It was founded in 2007. The first leader was Kofi Wayo.
The United Love Party (ULP) is a political party in Ghana. It was formed in 2008.
Kofi Koranteng is a Ghanaian activist and politician who used to be the chief executive officer of the Progressive Alliance Movement. He has been a key advocate for the rights of Ghanaians living abroad to be given the chance to vote and be represented in that manner through campaigning for the Representation of the Peoples’ Amendment Act (ROPAA) to be passed. In the run off to the election in December 2019, he declared his intention to stand for the 2020 Ghana elections as an independent candidate.
General elections were held in Ghana on 7 December 2024 to elect the president and members of Parliament. Then-incumbent President Nana Akufo-Addo, having completed his constitutional term limits, was ineligible for re-election.