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List of political parties in Ghana

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article lists political parties in Ghana.

Ghana has a multi-party system. However, there are two dominant political parties: the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party. It is extremely difficult for anyone to achieve electoral success under the banner of any other party.[1]

Regulation

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Political parties in Ghana are regulated under the Political Parties Act 574 passed in 2000. This spells out how political parties may be founded, registered and operated. It also specifies how political parties may be funded in Ghana.[2]

The parties in Ghana

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Fourth Republic (1992-present)

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As at June 2024, there are 27 political parties according to the Electoral Commission of Ghana.[3][4] Of these, a total of 11 parties indicated their willingness to participate in the political programmes by the state broadcaster, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation leading up to the 2020 Ghanaian general election.[5] In 2018, there were 24 political parties listed on the website.[6] There were 30 registered political parties on the list of the Electoral Commission of Ghana during the Fourth Republic in 2012.[7][8]

Parliamentary parties

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Name Abbr. Founded Leader Political position Ideology MPs
New Patriotic Party
NPP 1992 Nana Akufo-Addo Centre-right Liberal conservatism
Conservatism
Liberalism
137 / 275
National Democratic Congress NDC 1992 Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo Centre-left Social democracy
137 / 275

Other active parties

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The following parties were on the list of parties of the Electoral Commission of Ghana but not represented in parliament.

Name Abbr. Founded Leader Political position Ideology MPs Last election Comments
All People's Congress
APC 2016 Hassan Ayariga 0 2020 Split from PNC
Convention People's Party
CPP 1949
1996
Nana Frimpomaa Sarpong Kumankumah[9] 0 2020 Banned 1966, reformed 1996
Democratic Freedom Party
DFP 2006 Obed Asamoah N/A 2008 Merged with NDC in 2012[10]
Democratic People's Party
DPP 1992 Thomas Nuako
Ward-Brew
2016 No candidates in 2020
Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere
EGLE 1992 Nana Yaw Boakye
Ofori Atta
2004 Backed NDC in 2020 election
Great Consolidated Popular Party
GCPP 1995 Daniel Augustus Lartey[11] 0 2020
Ghana Democratic Republican Party
GDRP 1992 Kofi Amoah N/A Not involved in 2020 election
Ghana Freedom Party
GFP 2012 Akua Donkor[9] 0 2020
Ghana National Party
GNP 2007 Kobina
Amo-Aidoo
2008 Not involved in 2020 election
Ghana Union Movement
GUM 2019 Christian Kwabena Andrews[11] 0 2020
Liberal Party of Ghana
LPG 2017 Kofi Akpaloo[12] 0 2020
National Democratic Party
NDP 2012 Mohammed Frimpong[11] 0 2020 Split from NDC
National Reform Party
NRP 1999 Peter Kpordugbe 2004 Split from NDC
Not involved in 2020 election
New Vision Party
NVP 2008 Daniel Yaw Nkansah Not involved in 2020 election
People's Action Party
PAP Imoru Ayarna 1969 Not involved in 2020 election
People's Destiny Party
PDP Not involved in 2020 election
People's National Convention
PNC 1992 Bernard Mornah[11] 0 2020
Power Unity Party
PUP 2019 Eliahu Boateng N/A Not involved in 2020 election
Progressive Alliance for Ghana
PAG 2024 John Enyonam Kwakwu Kpikpi[11] N/A Nkrumah tradition
Progressive People's Party
PPP 2012 Kofi Asamoah Siaw[11] 0 2020
Reformed Patriotic Democrats
RPD 2007 N/A 2008 Not active in 2020 election
United Democratic Party
UDP Yaw Kumey N/A Not involved in 2020 election
United Development System Party
UDSP 2012 Tetteh Kabraham Early N/A Not active in 2020 election
United Front Party
UFP 2011 N/A No candidates in 2020 election
United Ghana Movement
UGM 1996 Charles Wereko-Brobby 2000 Not active in 2020 election
United Progressive Party
UPP 2016 Akwasi Addai Odike 0 2020
United Renaissance Party
URP 2007 Eric Charles Kofi Wayo N/A Not active in 2020 election
Yes People's Party
YPP 2012 Annin – Kofi Addo N/A 2012 Not active in 2020 election
Parties in bold have been involved with the 2024 election process so far

Inactive parties

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The following parties were formally active in the fourth republic but are no more registered with the Electoral Commission of Ghana.

Name Abbr. Founded Leader Political position Ideology Last election Comments
Ghana Redevelopment Party
GRP
Independent People's Party
IPP 2011 Kofi Akpaloo Dissolved in 2017
National Convention Party
NCP 1992 Kow Nkensen Arkaah Nkrumaism 1996 Merged with PCP to reform CPP in 1996[13]
National Independence Party
NIP 1992 Kwabena Darko Nkrumaism 1992 Presidential only Boycotted 1992 parliamentary election.
Merged with PHP in 1993, forming PCP
People's Convention Party
PCP 1993 Festus Busia Nkrumaism Merged with NCP to reform CPP in 1996
People's Heritage Party
PHP 1992 Emmanuel Erskine Nkrumaism 1992 Presidential only Boycotted 1992 parliamentary election.
Merged with NIP in 1993, forming PCP
United Love Party
ULP 2008 Ramon Osei Akoto Could not contest 2008 or 2012 elections Split from NDC

Third Republic (1979-1981)

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During the Third Republic, the following list of parties contested the 1979 general election. The All People's Party was a merger of the opposition parties in parliament formed later. All parties in the Third Republic were banned following the military coup d'etat on 31 December 1981. There would be continuous military rule until after the 1992 general election.

Name Abbr. Founded Leader Political position Ideology MPs Last election Comments
Action Congress Party
ACP 1979 Frank Bernasko 10 1979
All People's Party
APP 1979 Victor Owusu 1979 Merger of the parties in opposition- PFP, UNC, SDF and TFP
People's National Party
PNP 1979 Hilla Limann Nkrumah tradition 71 1979 Offshoot of CPP / NAL
Popular Front Party
PFP 1979 Victor Owusu Danquah/Busia tradition 42 1979 offshoot of Progress Party
Social Democratic Front
SDF 1979 Ibrahim Mahama 3 1979
Third Force Party
TFP 1979 John Bilson 0 1979
United National Convention
UNC 1979 William Ofori Atta 13 1979

Second Republic (1969-1972)

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The Second Republic spanned the period from October 1969 to 13 January 1972. This was the period when the Progress Party came to power with Kofi Busia as Prime Minister and Akufo-Addo as ceremonial President. It ended with the military coup d'état which brought the National Redemption Council military government into power. All political parties were banned.

Name Abbr. Founded Leader Political position Ideology MPs Last election Comments
All People's Republican Party
APRP 1969 P. K. K. Quaidoo 1 1969
Justice Party
JP 1970 E. R. T. Madjitey merger of NAL, PAP and UNP
National Alliance of Liberals
NAL 1969 K. A. Gbedemah 29 1969 offshoot of CPP as CPP was banned
People's Action Party
PAP 1969 Imoru Ayarna 2 1969 merged with NAL and UNP to form Justice Party
Progress Party
PP 1969 K. A. Busia 105 1969 offshoot of United Party
United Nationalist Party
UP 1969 H. S. Bannerman 2 1969 merged with NAL and PAP to form Justice Party

Independent State within the Commonwealth (1957-1960)/First Republic (1960-1966)

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Name Abbr. Founded Leader Political position Ideology MPs Last election Comments
Convention People's Party
CPP 1949 Kwame Nkrumah 198 1965 Nkrumah tradition
Federation of Youth Organization
FYO Modesto Apaloo 1 1956 Merged into United Party in 1957
Ga Shifimo Kpee
GSK 1957 0 Merged into United Party in 1957
Muslim Association Party
MAP 1954 Cobina Kessie 1 1956 Merged into United Party in 1957
National Liberation Movement
NLM 1954 Baffour Osei Akoto 12 1956 Merged into United Party in 1957
Northern People's Party
NPP 1954 S.D. Dombo 15 1956 Merged into United Party in 1957
Togoland Congress
TC 1951 S. G. Antor 2 1956 Merged into United Party in 1957
United Party
UP 1957 K. A. Busia Merger of all opposition parties in parliament

Pre-Independence

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Ghanaian natives were allowed to stand for elections into the Legislative Assembly. There were elections held in 1951, 1954 and 1956 prior to the United Kingdom granting Ghana independence.

Name Abbr. Founded Leader Political position Ideology MPs Last election Comments
Anlo Youth Organisation
AYO 1952 Modesto Apaloo 1 1954


Convention People's Party
CPP 1949 Kwame Nkrumah 71 1956 Nkrumah tradition, split from UGCC
Federation of Youth Organization
FYO Modesto Apaloo 1 1956 Merged into United Party in 1957
Ghana Congress Party
GCP 1952 K. A. Busia 1 1954 Merged into NLM
Muslim Association Party
MAP 1954 Cobina Kessie 1 1956 Merged into United Party in 1957
National Democratic Party
NDP 1950 Nii Amaa Ollennu right wing 0 1951 merged with UGCC in 1952 to form the GCP
National Liberation Movement
NLM 1954 Baffour Osei Akoto 12 1956 Merged into United Party in 1957
Northern People's Party
NPP 1954 S. D. Dombo 15 1956 Merged into United Party in 1957
Togoland Congress
TC 1951 S. G. Antor 2 1956 Merged into United Party in 1957
United Gold Coast Convention
UGCC 1947 Paa Grant 1951 merged with NDP in 1952 to form GCP

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Opposition parties initiate 'Yenpene' demo against new voters' register". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
  2. ^ "Political Parties Act". Electoral Commission of Ghana Online. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  3. ^ "Home - Electoral Commission". ec.gov.gh. Electoral Commission of Ghana. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Political Parties". Accra: Electoral Commission of Ghana Online. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Active political parties, independent candidates that will likely contest 2020 elections". GhanaWeb. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Political Parties". Electoral Commission of Ghana. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  7. ^ "Profile of Registered Political Parties in Ghana". Electoral Commission of Ghana. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  8. ^ "Ghana: Political Parties registered for 2012 elections". African Democracy Encyclopaedia Project. Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  9. ^ a b "2024 Elections: Akua Donkor and two others file nomination". ghanaweb.com. 12 September 2024. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  10. ^ "DFP merges with NDC". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  11. ^ a b c d e f Hamdia Mohammed (16 September 2024). "Election 2024: Meet the 24 Presidential candidates". www.citinewsroom.com. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  12. ^ "Watch how Kofi Akpaloo was cheered on after he filed his presidential nomination forms". ghanaweb.com. 9 September 2024. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  13. ^ "ARKAAH SAYS HE CAN WORK WITH RAWLINGS DESPITE". ghanaweb.com. 1 February 1996. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
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