About Intellectual Property IP Training Respect for IP IP Outreach IP for… IP and... IP in... Patent & Technology Information Trademark Information Industrial Design Information Geographical Indication Information Plant Variety Information (UPOV) IP Laws, Treaties & Judgements IP Resources IP Reports Patent Protection Trademark Protection Industrial Design Protection Geographical Indication Protection Plant Variety Protection (UPOV) IP Dispute Resolution IP Office Business Solutions Paying for IP Services Negotiation & Decision-Making Development Cooperation Innovation Support Public-Private Partnerships AI Tools & Services The Organization Working with WIPO Accountability Patents Trademarks Industrial Designs Geographical Indications Copyright Trade Secrets WIPO Academy Workshops & Seminars IP Enforcement WIPO ALERT Raising Awareness World IP Day WIPO Magazine Case Studies & Success Stories IP News WIPO Awards Business Universities Indigenous Peoples Judiciaries Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions Economics Gender Equality Global Health Climate Change Competition Policy Sustainable Development Goals Frontier Technologies Mobile Applications Sports Tourism PATENTSCOPE Patent Analytics International Patent Classification ARDI – Research for Innovation ASPI – Specialized Patent Information Global Brand Database Madrid Monitor Article 6ter Express Database Nice Classification Vienna Classification Global Design Database International Designs Bulletin Hague Express Database Locarno Classification Lisbon Express Database Global Brand Database for GIs PLUTO Plant Variety Database GENIE Database WIPO-Administered Treaties WIPO Lex - IP Laws, Treaties & Judgments WIPO Standards IP Statistics WIPO Pearl (Terminology) WIPO Publications Country IP Profiles WIPO Knowledge Center WIPO Technology Trends Global Innovation Index World Intellectual Property Report PCT – The International Patent System ePCT Budapest – The International Microorganism Deposit System Madrid – The International Trademark System eMadrid Article 6ter (armorial bearings, flags, state emblems) Hague – The International Design System eHague Lisbon – The International System of Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications eLisbon UPOV PRISMA UPOV e-PVP Administration UPOV e-PVP DUS Exchange Mediation Arbitration Expert Determination Domain Name Disputes Centralized Access to Search and Examination (CASE) Digital Access Service (DAS) WIPO Pay Current Account at WIPO WIPO Assemblies Standing Committees Calendar of Meetings WIPO Webcast WIPO Official Documents Development Agenda Technical Assistance IP Training Institutions COVID-19 Support National IP Strategies Policy & Legislative Advice Cooperation Hub Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISC) Technology Transfer Inventor Assistance Program WIPO GREEN WIPO's Pat-INFORMED Accessible Books Consortium WIPO for Creators WIPO Translate Speech-to-Text Classification Assistant Member States Observers Director General Activities by Unit External Offices Job Vacancies Procurement Results & Budget Financial Reporting Oversight
Arabic English Spanish French Russian Chinese
Laws Treaties Judgments Browse By Jurisdiction

Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, Ghana

Back

Latest Version in WIPO Lex
Year of Version 1996 Dates Entry into force: January 7, 1993 Adopted: May 8, 1992 Type of Text Constitution/Basic Law Subject Matter Other Notes The 1992 Constitution of Ghana was approved at the Referendum held on April 28, 1992 and promulgated by the Constitution of the Fourth Republic of Ghana (Promulgation) Law, 1992. It was last amended in 1996 by the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana (Amendment) Act, 1996. The 1992 Constitution is Ghana’s fifth constitution since independence from the United Kingdom in 1957 after those of 1957, 1960, 1969 and 1979.

The Constitution, as the supreme law of Ghana, recognizes human and citizen’s fundamental rights and declares Ghana to be a unitary republic with sovereignty residing in the Ghanaian people. It separates the powers among the President, Parliament, and an independent judiciary. The legislative power is vested in the unicameral Parliament, which comprises 230 members, who are elected by universal suffrage every four years. The executive power is exercised by the President and the Council of State. The President is the head of State, head of Government, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces; and appoints Ministers, subject to parliamentary approval. The judicial system consists of the Supreme Court (the highest court), the Court of Appeal, the High Court of Justice, and the lower courts or tribunals consisting of circuit tribunals and community tribunals.
The Ghana legal system is based on English common law and customary (traditional) law. The Constitution identifies the sources of Ghanaian law (Article 11).

Article 26(1) guarantees the right to enjoy and maintain the cultural rights and practices. Article 39(4) stipulates that the State shall endeavor to preserve and protect places of historical interest and artifacts.
Furthermore, the Constitution explicitly guarantees the right to protection from deprivation of property (Article 20).

Available Texts Main text(s) Main text(s) English Constitution of the Republic of Ghana PDF HTML
Related Legislation Relates to (1 text(s)) Relates to (1 text(s))
Geographical Indications Act, 2003 (GH015)

WIPO Lex No. GH014