Government and power in Ghana
Who leads Ghana, how the World Bank's governance indicators score it, how many women sit in parliament and government, what the state spends and taxes, and the official bodies that hold power to account. System of government: Unitary presidential republic.
Who leads Ghana?
- Head of state: John Dramani Mahama (President of the Republic of Ghana)
- Head of government: No Prime Minister
- Foreign minister: Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Ghana)
Source: Heads of State, Heads of Government, Ministers for Foreign Affairs: Public List (United Nations Protocol and Liaison Service), list dated 15 October 2026. All world leaders.
Governance scores
The World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators combine surveys of households and firms with assessments by public, private and non-governmental bodies. Each score runs from 0 to 100; higher means the sources rate governance better. They measure perceptions, and each has a margin of error.
- Voice and accountability
- Measures how far citizens can choose their government, and freedom of expression, association and the media.
- Political stability and absence of violence
- Measures the likelihood of political instability or politically motivated violence, including terrorism.
- Government effectiveness
- Measures the quality of public services and the civil service, and how independent they are from political pressure.
- Regulatory quality
- Measures the government's ability to make and carry out policies that let the private sector develop.
- Rule of law
- Measures confidence in and respect for the rules of society, including contract enforcement, property rights, the police and the courts.
- Control of corruption
- Measures how far public power is used for private gain, including petty and grand corruption and "capture" of the state by elites.
How does Ghana score on voice and accountability?
Voice and accountability: 64.3 out of 100 in 2025, 75th highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 41.2). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 66.5.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow does Ghana score on political stability?
Political stability and absence of violence: 67.1 out of 100 in 2025, 99th highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 56.4). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 65.3.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow does Ghana score on government effectiveness?
Government effectiveness: 55.1 out of 100 in 2025, 87th highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 36.2). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 53.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow does Ghana score on regulatory quality?
Regulatory quality: 52.3 out of 100 in 2025, 102nd highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 42.9). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 53.2.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow does Ghana score on the rule of law?
Rule of law: 58.6 out of 100 in 2025, 84th highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 44.6). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 61.6.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow does Ghana score on control of corruption?
Control of corruption: 45.8 out of 100 in 2025, 86th highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 32.2). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 42.6.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow many women are in Ghana's parliament?
Women held 14.5% of seats in the national parliament (single or lower chamber) in 2025, 146th highest of 184 countries with data. Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union, via the World Bank.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow many of Ghana's ministers are women?
Women held 21.1% of ministerial posts in 2025, 100th highest of 190.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow much does the government of Ghana spend?
Central government spending (expense) was 22.7% of GDP in 2022.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow much tax does the government of Ghana collect?
Central government tax revenue was 12.4% of GDP in 2023, 88th highest of 110.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow much does Ghana spend on the military?
Military spending was 0.5% of GDP in 2025, 139th highest of 149 (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, via the World Bank).
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow big are the armed forces of Ghana?
Armed forces personnel numbered 16,000 in 2020.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow good are Ghana's official statistics?
The World Bank's Statistical Performance Indicator, which scores how well a country's official statistics system works, was 65.7 out of 100 in 2024, 109th highest of 187.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow many births are registered in Ghana?
70.6% of births of children under 5 were registered with a civil authority (2018).
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow many people in Ghana use the internet?
72.2% of people used the internet in 2024.
Source: World Bank · saved copyOfficial bodies that hold power in Ghana
Government
- Ghana.gov.ghOfficial government portal with information on ministries, agencies and services.
- The Presidency, Republic of GhanaPresidential speeches, statements and news releases.
Parliament
- Parliament of GhanaHansard, order papers, bills and committee reports.
Elections
- Electoral Commission of GhanaElection results, voter register information and political party registration.
Courts
- Judicial Service of GhanaInformation on the Supreme Court and other courts, practice directions and judgments.
Public audit
- Ghana Audit ServiceReports of the Auditor-General on public accounts and state institutions.
Ombudsman
- Commission on Human Rights and Administrative JusticeReports and decisions on human rights, administrative justice and anti-corruption complaints.
Access to information
- Right to Information CommissionDecisions on right to information appeals, guidance for applicants and public institutions, and annual reports.
Public contracts
- Public Procurement AuthorityTender notices, contract awards, procurement guidelines and debarred entities.
Government below the national level
- Regions (16): Regional minister appointed by the president; Regional Coordinating Council includes MMDA heads and two chiefs from the regional House of Chiefs
- Metropolitan (6), municipal and district assemblies (261 in total): 70% of members elected without party labels; up to 30% appointed by the president in consultation with traditional authorities and others; MPs sit without a vote. The chief executive (MMDCE) is nominated by the president and needs approval from two-thirds of the assembly
- Sub-metropolitan, urban, town, zonal and area councils: Mix of assembly members, unit committee representatives and government appointees
- Unit committees (around 16,000): Mix of elected and appointed members
How local power works in Ghana
Places in Ghana
Sources
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Voice and accountability (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 70f2804fd1e2…)
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Political stability and absence of violence (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1317de0c85e1…)
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Government effectiveness (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a775e808dc65…)
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Regulatory quality (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 83b57e36ff8c…)
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Rule of law (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0bccc3c054e8…)
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Control of corruption (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3b15a5340cdd…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Seats held by women in national parliament (SG.GEN.PARL.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1ae1dc13981a…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Women in ministerial positions (SG.GEN.MNST.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a4e448a5b8bd…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Central government spending (GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 808094019f50…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Tax revenue (GC.TAX.TOTL.GD.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 08c94b750f31…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Military spending (MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a7f6913a783b…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Armed forces personnel (MS.MIL.TOTL.P1), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fa4663c743ba…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Statistical Performance Indicator (overall score) (IQ.SPI.OVRL), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 08ac7cde9129…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Births registered (SP.REG.BRTH.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f8d443034ba7…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: People using the internet (IT.NET.USER.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0d78dc658329…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.