Background to the 1951 elections in the gold coast ghana. Sir hugh clifford enacted the clifford constitution in the year 1922, after the amalgamation of the southern and northern protectorates in 1914. Amendments to the constitution in 1960 transformed ghana into a republic under a president and set up one party state. Its report led to the 1951 constitution, which gave the executive council an african. Former members of the ugcc went on to form the ghana congress party which later. On 1 july 1960 ghana became a republic and the republican constitution that provided that the monarch of united kingdom ceased to be ghanas 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. Population without people, there is nothing like a state because people are the ones who make up the state. What are the features of macphersons constitution of 1951. Download pdf this decree, which serves as a preamble to the 1979 constitution, details what the functions were of the constituent assembly in 1978, including their power to deliberate upon the constitution for the establishment of a transitional national government for ghana, and to make amendments in said draft. The 1951 constitution orderincouncil of the gold coast created, for the first time, the psc. It defines the fundamental political principles, establishing the structure, procedures, powers and duties of the government, structure of the judiciary and legislature, and spells out the fundamental rights and duties of citizens. Oldnaija goes beyond the lines to unearth historical events in nigeria and document nigerian cultures for. This decree, which serves as a preamble to the 1979 constitution, details what the functions were of the constituent assembly in 1978, including their power to deliberate upon the constitution for the establishment of a transitional national government for ghana, and to make amendments in said draft.
This is a download from the blds digital library on opendocs. There is a council of state, which is an advisory body to the president. This complete constitution has been generated from excerpts of texts from the repository of the comparative constitutions project, and distributed on. The australian constitution in focus parliamentary. Article 324 to 329 of part xv of the constitution deals with the electoral system in our country. We provide a research and learning environment for nigerians at home and in the diaspora. The evoluation of ghana law since independence assembly is curtailed, however, by the necessity for presidential assent before a bill can become effective, 6 by the prohibition of amendments of the annual estimates money bills submitted by the cabinet,7 and is at least qualified by the special. Hopefully, this brochure gives you an insight into the characteristics of social democracy. Fundamental human right and freedoms 12 1 the fundamental human rights and freedoms enshrined in this chapter shall be respected and upheld by the executive, legislature and. To the contrary, we believe that certain features and provisions of ghanas curre nt. Features of the independence constitution of 1960 nigerian. Every local church shall be, and remain, an assemblies of god, ghana church and shall be subject to this constitution b. Clifford constitution of 1922 features, merits and demerits.
Salient features of the representation of peoples act. Since 195i, adroit leaders of a wellorganized political party had operated a responsible. Nkrumah, still in jail, won a seat, and the cpp won an impressive. The constitution introduced a parliamentary system of government. The act consists of a preamble and 9 clauses, of which clause 9 is the original australian. Dibie, august 2008 a state must be free from all forms of external control to exercise. This guide to law online ghana contains a selection of ghanaian legal, juridical, and governmental sources accessible through the internet. Ghanas 1992 constitution provide for the existence of political. Browse and navigate ghana constitution in easy, natural real time and advanced. Ascertain from the people of ghana their views on the operation of the 1992 fourth republican constitution and, in particular, the strengths and weaknesses of the constitution. What are the features of the constitution of ghana answers.
The constitution of 1951 resulted from the report of the coussey committee, created because of disturbances in accra and other cities in 1948. The main features of the constitution of 1951 was devolution to regional governments of legislative and financial power on specified range of subjects by the colonial central government. Functions of national development planning commission 60. Parliament of ghana a historical background of the. And whereas the people of ghana approved the said constitution for the administration of. There was no member of the executive council from nigeria. List of mlas elected in the 1951 gold coast legislative election. The governor was the president with six exofficio or official members, six special nominees by the governor to represent some interests or communities, and 6 representatives, the north having 68 members while the west and east each had 34 members. Promulgation decree of the 1979 constitution of ghana.
The constitution approved at the referendum held on 28th april, 1992 and set out in the schedule to this law shall come into force on the 7th day of january, 1993. In 1957 when ghana achieved full political independence, the constitution was fashioned after the westminster model. The features of the 1992 constitution is to serve as a guide to govern the. Indeed, the noble objective for the establishment of the psc for the gold coast, now ghana has not changed. Kwame nkrumah assumed office with respect to the promulgation of a new constitution i n 1951. Download table some party activists elected in the 1951 election from. In exercise of this power, the parliament has enacted laws like representation of the people act 1950 rpa act 1950, representation of the people act 1951 rpa act 1951 and delimitation commission act of 1952. Following years of british rule that lasted from the early 19th century. Another new constitution was promulgated in 1954, followed by elections the same year, also won by the cpp.
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. Nov 17, 2019 news ghana is ghana s leading online news portal for business in west africa and around the world. Constitutional committee and the promulgation of the 1951 constitution. News ghana is ghanas leading online news portal for business in west africa and around the world. The legislative features of the 1951 constitution were repeated in the 1954 constitution. Links provide access to primary documents, legal commentary, and general government information about specific jurisdictions and topics. It established two legislative houses at both the federal and regional levels.
Ghana was also the leading cocoa exporter in the world and produced one tenth of the worlds gold. Elections for the legislative assembly were held for the first time in the gold coast on 8. 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. Supremacy of the constitution 1 the sovereignty of ghana resides in the people of ghana in whose name and for whose welfare the powers of government are to be exercised in the manner and within the limits laid down in this constitution.
Postindependence constitutions background, main features, merits and demerits a nigeria independence constitution 1960, republican constitution 1963, the 1979 and 1989 constitutions. 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. Sep 18, 2018 the constitution of the republic of the republic of ghana 1992 1. Act 527 constitution of the republic of ghana amendment act, 1996. The governorgeneral was made the ceremonial head of state. Britains colonial administrations and developments. A state may be defined as a politically organised body of people inhabiting a defined geographical entity with an organized legitimate government. Mar 27, 2012 home columns tuesday platform origin of nigerian constitutional regionalism. 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. It is therefore the responsibility of her majestys government in the united kingdom to advise her majesty as to its form. As the house knows, ghana is to attain independence within the commonwealth on 6th march. Boundariesdefined territory a state must have specific boundaries separating it from other states. The macpherson constitution established a central legislative council and a central executive council for the country.
Constitution allows parliament to make provisions in all matters relating to elections to the parliament and state legislatures. Constitution of the united states of america bill of. Constitution of ghana wikisource, the free online library. This system continued until 1951 when the legislature elected its first speaker under the 1950 constitution. While 25% of the population was literate which is high compared to other colonies at the time and many had obtained an education. The constitution of the republic of the republic of ghana 1992 1. Ghana s constitution of 1992 with amendments through 1996. In exercise of this power, the parliament has enacted laws like representation of the people act 1950 rpa act 1950, representation of the people act 1951 rpa act 1951. 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.
A guiding question for each lesson is included below each section. At the elections held early in 1951, the convention peoples party. Sir john macpherson was responsible for creating this constitution and its main highlight was the reported wide consultations with the different strata of the nigerian society before the constitution was created in 1951 also read. A highly accessible, easy to use app version of the constitution of ghana the supreme law of the republic of ghana. Some of the features of the 1992 constitution of the republic of ghana are who has the right to vote, what rights are protected by the courts, and the procedures that must be followed by the. The new constitution for ghana must be made by order in council passed before the actual date of independence.
Richards constitution was severely criticised by the nationalists, because it was imposed on nigerians without any prior consultation. This was the first election to be held in africa under universal suffrage. Though there are as many definitions of social democracy as there are social democrats, this brochure aims to give an introduction to this political ideology to which so many people from sweden to ghana and new zealand are committed. 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. It was approved on 28 april 1992 through a national referendum after 92% support. Ghanas constitution of 1992 with amendments through 1996. Ag ghana constitution pages 1 50 text version fliphtml5. Salient features of the representation of peoples act clear ias. The central legislative council was renamed the house of representatives. 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.
Elections for the legislative assembly were held for the first time in the gold coast on 8 february 1951. Some party activists elected in the 1951 election download table. Gold coast under colonial rule 19021951 yaa asantewaa partly as a result of the several administrative, judicial, financial and social measu. Ghana is a unitary state with a unicameral legislature. It retained the federal structure with the regions having residual powers. What are the features of the 1992 constitution of ghana. After the operation of richard constitution, macpherson constitution was introduced in 1951. The central legislative council known as the house of representatives consisted of. Whereas the said draft constitution was submitted to a national referendum held throughout ghana on the 28th april, 1992. Gold coast under colonial rule 19021951 ghana schoolsnet. Subject to clause 2 a of this article each local church shall be self governing, self propagating, and selfsupporting under the local church pastor, and accredited worker, or an approved leader, as the case may be. The evolution of ghana law since independence william burnett haivey introduction on march 6, 1957, the british gold coast achieved independence in circumstances that apparently offered a bright future for sovereign, independent ghana. Oldnaija is an online platform dedicated to documenting and promoting the history of ngeria. The commonwealth of australia constitution act 1900 granted permission to the 6 australian colonies, which were still subject to british law, to form their own national government in accordance with the constitution.
809 226 903 1309 404 152 1196 1018 1000 537 252 701 388 47 1388 1311 282 880 569 277 343 300 902 155 1038 375 178 417 1164 1254 1182