Profiles: Countries

GHANA: Republic of Ghana

Rawlings again took power in a coup on 31 December 1981. The Constitution was abolished, Parliament dissolved, and political parties banned. Flt Lt Rawlings assumed the Chairmanship of theProvisional National Defence Council (PNDC).

Ghana stabilised in the mid-1980s and political reform began A new Constitution was approved in a referendum in April 1992 and political parties were unbanned. The Constitution guarantees democratic freedom. The first presidential election for 13 years took place in November 1992. Rawlings, standing for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), was the winner with 58% of the vote.

In December 1996, President Rawlings was re-elected for a second term. International observers agreed that the elections were fair and well-conducted and a step forward for democracy in Africa. There will be new elections in 2000, and President Rawlings will eventually have to step down, according to the constitution.     1     2     3    4