Political parties that have ruled Ghana since independence

Do you know the political parties that have ruled Ghana since independence thus from 1957 to 2024? This post gives you some interesting hostoric facts.

A political party is an organized group of people with defined aims and objectives who strive to capture political power through elections to implement their policies and programs and control the personnel and policies of government.

Political parties play a vital role in democratic settings, where they select individuals to manage the affairs of the country and also oppose the sitting government, guiding it onto the correct path.

Political parties differ from pressure groups, whose core mandate is to influence the government in favor of their members’ welfare. Every political party aims at capturing political power.

What are the political parties that have ruled Ghana since independence?

The United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) was the first political party to be formed in Ghana. It was established by educated elites and business merchants in the country.

Formed in Saltpond in 1947, the founding fathers of the UGCC included George Alfred Grant (Paa Grant), Joseph Boakye Danquah, among others.

The Convention People’s Party (CPP) was the second political movement in Ghana, formed by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in 1949 after he broke away from the UGCC.

Several political parties have governed the country since independence.

Political Parties That Have Governed Ghana So Far:

1. Convention People’s Party (CPP):

   • It was the first political party to win elections in Ghana, emerging victorious in the 1951, 1954, and 1956 elections with their founder, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, as their candidate.
   • They governed the country for nine years until they were ousted from power in the 1966 coup.
   • The CPP was subsequently banned, and Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s ministers were dismissed from office.

2. Progress Party (PP):

   • The Progress Party (PP) was formed following the lifting of the ban on political campaigns by the National Liberation Council (NLC) government.
   • On 3rd September 1969, Kofi Abrefa Busia was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Ghana on the ticket of the Progress Party.
   • The party assumed leadership of the country after winning the 1969 elections.
   • Their aim was to work on the Ghanaian economy to ensure steady growth. However, the introduction of huge taxes led to several strikes and boycotts, resulting in their downfall when the Supreme Military Council (SMC I) overthrew them on 13th January 1972.

3. People’s National Party (PNP):

   • The PNP was formed when the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) lifted the ban on political campaigns in 1979.
   • The party was established to contest elections under the Third Republican Constitution.
   • Its leaders included Dr. Hilla Limann, Ekow Daniels, Krobo Edusei, Kojo Botsio, and other members of the CPP.
   • The PNP aimed to continue the good policies of Dr. Nkrumah and promote national unity and reconciliation.
   • The PNP government respected the fundamental human rights of Ghanaians, including freedom of speech and other natural rights. However, inflation was a major challenge during their tenure.

4. National Democratic Congress (NDC):

   • The NDC was formed in 1992 following the country’s return to civilian rule after military governance since 1981 under the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC).
   • The NDC emerged from the PNDC, with leaders such as Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings and Dr. Obed Asamoah.
   • They won the 1992 and 1996 elections with Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings as their candidate, the 2008 elections with Professor John Evans Atta Mills, and the 2012 general elections with John Dramani Mahama.
   • The NDC is a mass party whose membership is open to everyone regardless of social status.

5. New Patriotic Party (NPP):

   • The NPP was formed in 1992 when the country returned to civilian rule.
   • Dr. Adu Boahen was one of the key founders of the NPP.
   • The party won its first presidential election in the 2000 general elections with John Agyekum Kufuor as their candidate.
   • They lost the 2008 and 2012 elections to the incumbent NDC but returned to win the 2016 and 2020 elections with Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as their candidate.

READ: Top 10 Oldest Countries In Africa – See Ghana’s Position

Other Existing Political Parties in Ghana:

Some of the existing political parties in Ghana include:

• People’s National Congress (PNC)
• Progressive People’s Party (PPP)
• Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP)
• All People’s Congress (APC)
• Ghana Union Movement (GUM)
• Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), among others.

READ: Top 10 Oldest Countries In Africa – See Ghana’s Position

Since 1992, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have dominated the Ghanaian political scene.

Who will be president of Ghana from Janiary 7th, 2024?

From January 7th, 2025, John Dramani Mahama will become Ghana’s new president haven won the 2024 Presidnetial election held on December 7th 2024.