Held every 4 years, six months apart from national elections. The most recent District Assembly elections took place on 19 December 2023 and the next are anticipated in 2027. (Note: District election candidates run as independents, not on party tickets.)
Ghana
Ghana operates under a presidential republic system with a multi-party political landscape, dominated by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC). The country is known for its stable democracy, having held regular elections and peaceful transfers of power since the Fourth Republic’s establishment in 1992.
32M+
Population
1.003:1
Men-Women Ratio
25%
Women Representation
Overview
Ghana’s political system has a fascinating and turbulent history. It began under British colonial rule as the Gold Coast and transitioned to an independent, one-party state, and then, through a series of coups, to its current status as a stable multi-party democracy.
• From Independence to One-Party Rule
After gaining independence in 1957, Kwame Nkrumah’s Convention People’s Party (CPP) came to power. However, by 1964, the country became a one-party state under the CPP.
• The Era of Instability
A military coup in 1966 overthrew Nkrumah, ushering in a long period of political instability. Between 1966 and 1992, Ghana saw a continuous cycle of alternating civilian and military regimes.
Brief democratic periods, known as the Second Republic (1969–1972) under Prime Minister Kofi Busia and the Third Republic (1979–1981) under President Hilla Limann, were both cut short by military coups.
Flight Lt. Jerry Rawlings led two of these coups (1979, 1981) and ruled under the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) from 1982 to 1992.
• The Fourth Republic: A Stable Democracy
In 1992, a new constitution was adopted, restoring multi-party democracy and establishing Ghana’s Fourth Republic. This period has been marked by remarkable stability, with the country holding eight general elections to date and peacefully alternating power between the two main parties: the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Since 1992, all five presidential transitions have been peaceful, a significant achievement that has earned Ghana a reputation as one of West Africa’s most enduring democracies.
Upcoming Elections
December 19, 2027
District Assembly (Local) Elections
Scheduled
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December 7, 2028
General Elections
Scheduled
Presidential & Parliamentary Elections: Ghana’s Constitution (Art. 62) mandates general elections every 4 years on the second Tuesday of December. The last polls were held 7 December 2024
The next general elections are therefore expected in December 2028 (exact date to be set by EC).
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Participation Metrics
• Voter Registration: By 2020 about 17 million were registered (≈66% of population). According to research, women made up ~51.7% of registered voters (men ~48.3%), reflecting roughly equal gender participation.
• Turnout (Presidential): Turnout has varied: 69.3% in 2016, 78.9% in 2020, and about 64.0% in 2024. (Turnout dipped in 2024, possibly indicating some voter apathy.)
• Youth and Age: All citizens 18+ vote. Ghana’s electorate skews young (over half under 35), but specific “youth turnout” data is limited. Surveys (e.g. Afrobarometer) note high youth interest in politics, but no official breakdown by age is published.
• Regional Trends: Turnout and party support vary regionally: e.g., Ashanti and Eastern regions strongly favor the NPP, while the Volta and Northern regions lean NDC. However, official turnout reports by region are not routinely published.
• Gender Gap: While registration is roughly gender-balanced, women’s representation in elective office is low (around 15% in Parliament as of 2023). Civic groups note more voter apathy among youth and women in recent elections, although exact turnout by group is not released.
Key Electoral Institutions
Political parties and the National Assembly
Political parties and the National Assembly are crucial to the functioning of Mauritania’s electoral system, even though they are not direct management bodies. Political parties mobilize citizens, nominate candidates, and monitor elections through agents and observers. The National Assembly contributes by debating and enacting electoral laws, shaping the legal framework within which CENI and other institutions operate. Together, they provide democratic oversight and ensure political pluralism in the electoral environment.
Contact Information
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Constitutional Council
They serve as the highest judicial authority on electoral and constitutional matters in Mauritania. It validates and proclaims final election results, particularly for presidential and parliamentary elections, and confirms the eligibility of presidential candidates. The Council also adjudicates electoral disputes, ensuring that elections comply with the constitution and legal framework. Its rulings are final and binding, giving it a central role in safeguarding the integrity and legitimacy of electoral outcomes.
Contact Information
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Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI)
This is Mauritania’s principal body responsible for organizing and supervising all elections, including presidential, parliamentary, regional, and municipal polls. It operates as an autonomous institution mandated to ensure transparency, neutrality, and fairness in the electoral process. CENI oversees voter registration, monitors campaign conduct, manages the logistics of voting and counting, and announces provisional results. Its members are appointed through political consensus, typically representing both ruling and opposition parties, to reinforce public confidence and political balance.
Contact Information
- Headquarters: Commission Électorale Nationale Indépendante (CENI) of Mauritania
- Mailing Address: B.P. 4550, Nouakchott, Mauritania
- Hotline: +222 45 24 15 40
- Email: ceni@ceni.mr
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Direction Générale des Élections (DGE)
The DGE is the main new electoral management body in Guinea, created by decree in 2025. It is responsible for organising elections (both elections and referendums), maintaining and managing the electoral register, and guaranteeing aspects of electoral fairness. The DGE also represents Guinea in regional and international electoral organisations.
Contact Information
- Headquarters: Direction Générale des Élections (DGE)
- Mailing Address: Based in Conakry, Commune de Dixinn
- Hotline: +224 628 00 00 00
- Email: contact@dge.gov.gn
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Judiciary (Election Petitions)
The High Court of The Gambia hears election petitions. (Election Petition Rules 1976 govern the process.)
Contact Information
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Electoral Laws & Policies
• The 1992 Constitution The Repbulic of Ghana (as amended)
The 1992 Constitution is the supreme law that establishes the fundamental principles of Ghana’s democracy. It guarantees the right to vote for all citizens over 18 (Article 42), the right to a secret ballot, and outlines the powers of the Electoral Commission (EC). Article 46 explicitly shields the EC from external control or direction.
https://constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/Ghana%20Constitution.pdf
• Electoral Commission Act, 1993 (Act 451): This act formally established the Electoral Commission, specifying its composition, powers, and membership. It was amended in 2003 by Act 655.
https://repository.parliament.gh/bitstream/handle/123456789/1810/ELECTORAL%20COMMISSION%20ACT%2c%201993%20%28ACT%20451%29.pdf?sequence=1
• Presidential and Parliamentary Elections Laws (1992): The initial legal framework for presidential and parliamentary elections was set out in separate laws (PNDCL 284/285) and regulations (CI 15, 1996), which govern nomination, voting procedures, and dispute resolution. These laws establish rules for campaign periods and funding.
https://judicial.gov.gh/jsweb/index.php/jsg-services/libraryservices/statute-on-elections/392-presidential-elections-law-1992-pndcl-285
• Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574): This law regulates the registration of political parties, their internal operations, and financial reporting. A 2018 amendment was made to strengthen oversight of party finances.
https://repository.parliament.gh/bitstream/handle/123456789/1905/ACT%20574%20Rev%20Ed.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y
• Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936): This act consolidated local government laws, including those for District Level Elections. It requires that candidates for these local elections run as individuals without party affiliation.
https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/gha177648.pdf
• Representation of the People’s Amendment Act (ROPAA, 2016): This act was passed to allow qualified Ghanaians living abroad to vote in national elections. However, its implementation is pending the passage of a Constitutional Instrument. https://legislation.gov.im/cms/legislation/acts-of-tynwald-as-enacted/21-primary-2016.html?download=254:representation-of-the-people-amendment-act-2016
• Biometric and ID Laws: The EC’s use of biometric voter registration is conducted under the Electoral Commission Act. Since 2019, the Ghana Card (the national ID, established by the 2006 NIA Act) has been used for voter identification and verification at polling stations.
https://nca.org.gh/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/National-Identification-Authority-Act-2006-Act-707.pdf
Accredited Election Monitoring Organizations
Recent Election Publication
News & Updates
Election Result Platform
How To Monitor Elections In
Ghana
Purpose
Promote transparent, credible, and peaceful elections by providing impartial, timely, and verifiable observations.
Who can observe
International observers (regional bodies, foreign missions, NGOs)
Domestic/local observers (Ghanaian CSOs, professional associations)
Citizen observers (trained individuals/teams)
Media observers (with proper press accreditation)
Key Institutions and Accreditation
Electoral Commission (EC): main authority for accreditation, polling procedures, and results management.
Accreditation: Obtain through EC or accredited observer coalitions before and on Election Day.
Legal basis: Observation permitted under Ghana’s electoral laws; follows the Representation of the People Act and EC regulations.
Planning and Preparation
Choose observer track: international, domestic, citizen, or media.
Join a recognized observer network or coalition; secure credentials.
Define scope: sampling of polling stations, counting centers, and results transmission; ensure regional and urban/rural balance.
Training: participate in pre-election training on procedures, indicators, safety, and ethics.
Tools: standardized checklists, incident reporting templates, data capture (offline-capable if needed); plan for photo/video where permitted.
Deployment and Logistics
Coverage plan: representative spread across regions; identify key constituencies for focused monitoring.
Logistics: travel, accommodation, local transport, power for devices, data storage, and secure communications.
Safety: risk assessment, security briefings, emergency contacts, contingency plans for high-risk areas.
Compliance: adhere to EC guidelines, local laws, and observer code of conduct.
On Election Day (Polling Stations)
Accreditation verification at polling sites.
Observe: voter access, queue management, secrecy of the ballot, and adherence to procedures.
Record anomalies: delays, intimidation, missing materials, misprinted ballots, or procedural lapses.
Non-interference: do not disrupt processes; use approved templates; maintain neutrality.
Counting and Transmission
Observe counting where allowed; document procedures and deviations.
Monitor transmission of results; cross-check with official figures where possible.
Record discrepancies and corroborate with multiple observers if feasible.
Reporting
Use standardized, factual templates for field notes and incident reports.
Escalate critical issues through coalition networks or EC channels as appropriate.
Prepare and publish a concise preliminary report; plan for a comprehensive post-election report.
Post-Election Activities
Public briefings with media and stakeholders.
Compare observer findings with EC results and other reports.
Contribute to post-election reviews, reforms, and recommendations.
Ethical and Operational Principles
Impartiality, non-interference, accuracy, transparency.
Safety first; comply with laws, ethical codes, and data privacy where applicable.
Respect voters, officials, and fellow observers; avoid disrupting processes.
Timeline
6–12 months before: join coalition, begin accreditation planning.
3–6 months before: complete training; finalize deployment plan.
Weeks before: confirm sampling, secure logistics.
Election Day: observe and report.
1–2 weeks after: publish preliminary findings; submit final report.
Resources
Electoral Commission Ghana: accreditation guidelines (check EC Ghana for current processes)
Ghanaian CSO observer coalitions (verify current members)
Regional/international partners: ECOWAS, AU, EU election missions, UNDP