Vice President of Ghana

Vice President of Ghana
Post	Vice President
Body	Ghana
Insigniacaption	Coat of arms of Ghana
Flagcaption	Standard of the vice president
Incumbent	Mahamudu Bawumia
Incumbentsince	7 January 2017
Department	Executive Branch of the Government of Ghana
Style	His Excellency
Appointer	Elected alongside the President of Ghana
Termlength	Four years, renewable once
Formation	1 July 1960; First Republic
Inaugural	Joseph W. S. de Graft-Johnson
Website	[https://www.op.gov.gh Office of the President]

Vice President of Ghana. The Vice President of Ghana is the second-highest constitutional officer in the executive branch of the Government of Ghana, ranking immediately below the President of Ghana. The office was established with the advent of the First Republic in 1960, though it was abolished during periods of military rule under regimes like the National Liberation Council and the Provisional National Defence Council. The vice president's primary role is to support the president and assume the presidency in case of a vacancy, as has occurred in the nation's history, such as with the succession of John Atta Mills.

Role and responsibilities

The vice president's constitutional duties are primarily to assist the president in the governance of the state as detailed in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. Key responsibilities include chairing cabinet meetings in the president's absence, serving as a member of the National Security Council, and representing the nation on diplomatic missions, such as those to the United Nations or the African Union. The vice president may also be assigned specific policy portfolios by the president, as seen with Alhaji Aliu Mahama's oversight of infrastructure development and Mahamudu Bawumia's focus on economic management and digitalization initiatives. Furthermore, the officeholder participates in key state ceremonies and advises the president on matters of national importance, working closely with institutions like the Parliament of Ghana and the Judicial Service of Ghana.

Eligibility and election

To be eligible for the office, a candidate must meet the same constitutional qualifications as for the presidency, as outlined in Chapter 8 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. This includes being a citizen of Ghana by birth, being at least forty years of age, and being a registered voter. The candidate is elected on a joint ticket with a presidential candidate through a nationwide popular vote administered by the Electoral Commission of Ghana, requiring more than 50% of valid votes cast. The ticket is contested by candidates from major political parties such as the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress, often involving prominent figures like the late Kwadwo Afari-Gyan as a key electoral administrator. A vice-presidential candidate must not hold allegiance to any other country and must be qualified to be a member of the Parliament of Ghana, though they are not required to be a sitting member.

List of vice presidents

Since its inception, the office has been held by individuals from various political backgrounds, with the inaugural holder being Joseph W. S. de Graft-Johnson under President Hilla Limann during the Third Republic. Notable vice presidents include John Kufuor, who later became president, and John Dramani Mahama, who succeeded to the presidency following the death of John Atta Mills in 2012. The longest-serving vice president is Mahamudu Bawumia, serving under President Nana Akufo-Addo since 2017. Other holders include Kow Nkensen Arkaah, who served under Jerry Rawlings, and Paapa Owusu-Ankomah, who served briefly. The list reflects the political evolution of the Fourth Republic and the dominance of the two major parties, the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress.

Succession and vacancy

The constitutional order of succession is clearly defined in Article 60 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, which states that the vice president shall assume the office of president in the event of the president's death, resignation, or removal from office. This provision was invoked in 2012 when then-Vice President John Dramani Mahama became president after the passing of John Atta Mills. If the vice presidency becomes vacant, the president is required to nominate a new vice president, who must be approved by a majority of members of the Parliament of Ghana, as occurred with the appointment of Mahamudu Bawumia following the 2016 election. In the interim, the Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana performs the presidential duties, a mechanism tested during transitions.

Official residence and symbols

The official residence of the vice president is the Vice President's Lodge, located in the Accra neighborhood of Cantonments, which serves as both a residence and an office for official functions. The vice president is entitled to use an official flag, a distinctive standard featuring the national colors and the Coat of arms of Ghana, which is flown at the residence and on official vehicles. Other symbols of office include access to state transport, such as aircraft from the Ghana Air Force, and security provided by units like the Ghana Police Service and Presidential Guard. The vice president also utilizes facilities at the Jubilee House for executive functions and engages in state protocol managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Historical development

The office was first created in 1960 under the First Republic constitution, but was abolished after the 1966 coup by the National Liberation Council. It was briefly revived during the Third Republic under the 1979 Constitution, with Joseph W. S. de Graft-Johnson serving under President Hilla Limann, before being abolished again following the 1981 coup by Jerry Rawlings and the Provisional National Defence Council. The current office was reinstated with the adoption of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, which established the Fourth Republic and has ensured its continuity under democratic rule, influenced by the return to multi-party politics and the stability of institutions like the Supreme Court of Ghana. The evolution of the role mirrors Ghana's political shifts between republican governance and military rule, solidifying its place in the modern executive structure alongside the President of Ghana and the Cabinet of Ghana.

Category:Vice presidents of Ghana Category:Government of Ghana