Vice-President of Ghana
Vice-President of Ghana | |
---|---|
Style | His/Her Excellency |
Residence | Flagstaff House |
Term length | Four years, renewable once |
Inaugural holder |
Joseph W.S. deGraft-Johnson Republic established Kow Nkensen Arkaah Current Constitution |
Formation |
Republic Day 1 July 1960 1992 Constitution 15 May 1992 |
Salary | unknown |
Website |
(in English) Presidency.gov.gh (in English) Ghana.gov.gh |
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Ghana |
Constitution |
Legislative |
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The Vice-President of the Republic of Ghana is the second-highest executive official in 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 of 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.
Eligibility
The provisions of article 62 of the 1992 Constitution apply to a candidate for election as Vice-President:
- (a) he/she is a citizen of Ghana by birth
- (b) he/she has attained the age of thirty-five years; and
- (c) he/she is a person who is otherwise qualified to be elected a Member of Parliament, except that the disqualifications set out in paragraphs (c), (d), and (e) of clause (2) of article 94 of this Constitution shall not be removed, in respect of any such person, by a presidential pardon or by the lapse of time as provided for in clause (5) of that article.
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:
- presiding of various meetings in absence of the President
- acting President when the President is out of the country
The Vice-President is also a member of
- The National Security Council
- The Armed Forces Council[1]
- The Police Service Council[2]
- The Prisons Service Council[3]
List of Vice-Presidents of Ghana
Title | Name | Inaugurated | Left Office | President | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vice President | Joseph W.S. deGraft-Johnson | 24 September 1979 | 31 December 1981 | Jerry Rawlings | Deposed in a coup d'état |
Hilla Limann | |||||
Vacant | 31 December 1981 | 7 January 1993 | Jerry Rawlings | ||
Vice President | Kow Nkensen Arkaah | 7 January 1993 | 7 January 1997 | ||
Vice President | John Atta Mills | 7 January 1997 | 7 January 2001 | ||
Vice President | Alhaji Aliu Mahama | 7 January 2001 | 7 January 2009 | John Kufuor | |
Vice President | John Dramani Mahama | 7 January 2009 | 24 July 2012 | John Atta Mills | Succeeded to the presidency after the death of President Mills |
Vacant | 24 July 2012 | August 6, 2012 | John Dramani Mahama | ||
Vice President | Kwesi Amissah-Arthur | 6 August 2012 | 7 January 2017 | ||
Vice President | Mahamudu Bawumia | 7 January 2017 | Nana Akufo-Addo | ||
References
Order of precedence | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Nana Akufo-Addo President of Ghana |
Mahamudu Bawumia Vice President of Ghana |
Succeeded by Aaron Mike Oquaye Speaker of Parliament of Ghana |