Vice-President of Ghana

Last updated
Vice President of the
Republic of Ghana
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Mahamudu Bawumia
since 7 January 2017
Style His/Her Excellency
Residence Golden Jubilee House
Term length Four years, renewable once
Inaugural holder Joseph W.S. deGraft-Johnson
Republic established
Kow Nkensen Arkaah
Current Constitution
FormationRepublic Day
1 July 1960
1992 Constitution
15 May 1992
Salaryunknown
Website(in English) Presidency.gov.gh
(in English) Ghana.gov.gh

The vice-president of Ghana is the second-highest officer in the Government of Ghana. The vice-president, together with the President of Ghana, is directly elected by the people through popular vote to serve a four-year term in office. The vice-president is the first person in the presidential line of succession, and would ascend to the presidency upon the death, resignation, or removal of the president. The current vice-president is Mahamudu Bawumia, who took office on 7 January 2017, under President Nana Akufo-Addo.

Contents

Eligibility

The provisions of article 62 of the 1992 Constitution apply to a candidate for election as Vice-President. The candidate must be:

The president and vice president are elected on a single ticket; all presidential candidates must lodge the name of their running mate when filing for election.

If the president dies, resigns, or is permanently incapacitated, the vice-president automatically ascends as president for the balance of the term. A Vice-President who ascends to the presidency before half of the presidential term expires is only allowed to run for a single full term. If more than half of the term has expired, he can run for two terms, whether successive or separated. This provision has been used once, when John Mahama ascended to the presidency after the death of his running mate, John Atta Mills, in July 2012. He was elected president in his own right that December, and was allowed to run for reelection in 2016 since he had ascended with only six months remaining in Mills' term.

Oath of office

The Vice-President of Ghana must be sworn in by the Chief Justice before the citizens of Ghana at the Independence square in Accra. The Vice-President-elect must repeat the following:

"I,(name) having been elected to the office of Vice-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 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)."

Duties

The duties of the vice-president of Ghana are:

The Vice-President is also a member of

List of vice-presidents of Ghana (1979–present)

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officePolitical partyPresident
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1 JosephdeGraftJohnson.jpg Joseph W.S. de Graft-Johnson
(1933–1999)
24 September 197931 December 1981
(Deposed)
2 years, 98 days People's National Party Hilla Limann
2 No image.png Kow Nkensen Arkaah
(1927–2001)
7 January 19937 January 19974 years National Convention Party Jerry Rawlings
3 John Atta-Mills election poster.jpg John Atta Mills
(1944–2012)
7 January 19977 January 20014 years National Democratic Congress
4 Alhaji Aliu Mahama.jpg Aliu Mahama
(1946–2012)
7 January 20017 January 20098 years New Patriotic Party John Kufuor
5 John Dramani Mahama 2014 (cropped).jpg John Mahama
(born 1958)
7 January 200924 July 20123 years, 199 days National Democratic Congress John Atta Mills
6 The Vice President of Ghana, Mr. Kwesi Amissah, 2014 (cropped).jpg Kwesi Amissah-Arthur
(1951–2018)
6 August 20127 January 20174 years, 154 days National Democratic Congress John Mahama
7 Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana (cropped).jpg Mahamudu Bawumia
(born 1963)
7 January 2017Incumbent7 years, 37 days New Patriotic Party Nana Akufo-Addo

Demographics

Vice-PresidentEthnicityReligious affiliatiom
Joseph W. S. de Graft-JohnsonFante (Akan)Methodist
Kow Nkensen ArkaahFante (Akan)Methodist
John Atta MillsFante (Akan)Methodist
Aliu MahamaDagombaMuslim
John Dramani MahamaGonjaAssemblies of God (raised Presbyterian)
Kwesi Amissah-ArthurFante (Akan)Methodist
Mahamudu BawumiaMamprusiMuslim

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References

  1. Chapter 17 Article 211 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana
  2. Chapter 15 Article 201 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana
  3. Chapter 16 Article 206 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana
Order of precedence
Preceded by Mahamudu Bawumia
Vice President of Ghana
Succeeded by