🇬🇭 Ghana
DemocracyElectoral democracy
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John Mahama
President · 648 days in office
How the political system works in Ghana
Ghana is governed as a democracy. Its president, John Mahama, has led the country since Jan 7, 2025. Ghana has had 14 presidents since 1957. Under the Regimes of the World classification, it counts as an electoral democracy.
Tenure records
Longest-serving
Jerry Rawlings
7,059 days · 2 terms
Shortest-serving
Nii Amaa Ollennu
24 days
Average tenure
1,578 days
John Mahama: 59% below average
Female leaders
0 of 14
All male to date
Recent presidents by days in office
Is a leader's tenure getting longer or shorter in Ghana?
Across 15 completed terms, the average president of Ghana has served 1,578 days (about 4.3 years). Terms are getting longer: the last five completed terms averaged 3,143 days.
One completed term Average tenure per decade
All presidents of Ghana
| # | Name | Took office | Left office | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 |  John Mahama | Jan 7, 2025 | Incumbent | 648 |
| 15 |  Nana Akufo-Addo | Jan 7, 2017 | Jan 7, 2025 | 2,922 |
| 14 | John Mahama | Jul 24, 2012 | Jan 7, 2017 | 1,628 |
| 13 |  John Evans Atta Mills | Jan 7, 2009 | Jul 24, 2012 | 1,294 |
| 12 |  John Kufuor | Jan 7, 2001 | Jan 7, 2009 | 2,922 |
| 11 |  Jerry Rawlings | Dec 31, 1981 | Jan 7, 2001 | 6,947 |
| 10 |  Hilla Limann | Sep 24, 1979 | Dec 31, 1981 | 829 |
| 9 | Jerry Rawlings | Jun 4, 1979 | Sep 24, 1979 | 112 |
| 8 |  Fred Akuffo | Jul 5, 1978 | Jun 4, 1979 | 334 |
| 7 |  Ignatius Kutu Acheampong | Jan 13, 1972 | Jul 5, 1978 | 2,365 |
| 6 | Edward Akufo-Addo | Aug 31, 1970 | Jan 13, 1972 | 500 |
| 5 | Nii Amaa Ollennu | Aug 7, 1970 | Aug 31, 1970 | 24 |
| 4 | Akwasi Afrifa | Apr 2, 1969 | Aug 7, 1970 | 492 |
| 3 |  Joseph Arthur Ankrah | Feb 24, 1966 | Apr 2, 1969 | 1,133 |
| 2 |  Kwame Nkrumah | Jul 1, 1960 | Feb 24, 1966 | 2,064 |
| 1 |  Charles Arden-Clarke | Mar 6, 1957 | Jun 24, 1957 | 110 |
Officeholder history via Wikidata. Multiple rows for one person indicate separate terms.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is the President of Ghana?
- John Mahama has been President of Ghana since Jan 7, 2025.
- How is the leader of Ghana chosen?
- Ghana is governed as a democracy. Its president, John Mahama, has led the country since Jan 7, 2025. Ghana has had 14 presidents since 1957. Under the Regimes of the World classification, it counts as an electoral democracy.
- Who is the longest-serving President of Ghana?
- Jerry Rawlings, with 7,059 days in office across 2 terms.
- Are leaders serving longer or shorter terms in Ghana?
- Across 15 completed terms, the average president of Ghana has served 1,578 days (about 4.3 years). Terms are getting longer: the last five completed terms averaged 3,143 days.
- Has Ghana ever had a female president?
- No. All 14 presidents of Ghana to date have been men.