Vice President of the Republic of Ghana

Vice President of the Republic of Ghana
Incumbent Emissah Attah since 6 August 2012
Style	His/Her Excellency
Residence	Flagstaff House
Term length	Four years, renewable once
Inaugural holder	Joseph W.S. deGraft-Johnson Republic established Kow Nkensen Arkaah Current Constitution
Formation	Republic Day 1 July 1960 1992 Constitution 15 May 1992
Salary	unknown
Website	(English) Presidency.gov.gh (English) Ghana.gov.gh

The Vice President of the Republic of Ghana is the second-highest executive official in Ghana. The Vice President, together with the President of the Republic of Ghana, is directly elected by the people through popular vote to serve a four-year term of office. The Vice President is the first person in the presidential line of succession, and would ascend to the Presidency upon the death, resignation, or removal of the President. The current Vice President of Ghana is Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, who took office after his predecessor ascended to the Presidency of Republic of Ghana on 24 July 2012, after the death of President Atta Mills.

Eligibility

The provisions of article 62 of the 1992 Constitution apply to a candidate for election as Vice-President:

• (a) he/she is a citizen of Ghana by birth
• (b) he/she has attained the age of thirty-five years; and
• (c) he/she is a person who is otherwise qualified to be elected a Member of Parliament, except that the disqualifications set out in paragraphs (c), (d), and (e) of clause (2) of article 94 of this Constitution shall not be removed, in respect of any such person, by a presidential pardon or by the lapse of time as provided for in clause (5) of that article.

Oath of office

The Vice President of Ghana must be sworn in by the Chief Justice before the citizens of Ghana at the Independence square in Accra. The Vice President-elect must repeat the following:

"I,........................................................................................................having been elected to the office of Vice-President of the Republic of Ghana, do (in the name of the Almighty God swear) (solemnly affirm) that I will be faithful and true to the Republic of Ghana; that I will at all times preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana; and I dedicate myself to the service and well-being of the people of the Republic of Ghana and to do right to all manner of persons.

I further (solemnly swear) (solemnly affirm) that should I at any time break this oath of office, I shall submit myself to the laws of the Republic of Ghana and suffer the penalty for it. (So help me God)."

Duties

The duties of the Vice President of Ghana are:

• presiding of various meetings in absence of the President
• acting President when the President is out of the country

The Vice President is also a member of

• The National Security Council
• The Armed Forces Council^[1]
• The Police Service Council^[2]
• The Prisons Service Council^[3]

List of Vice Presidents of the Republic of Ghana

Title	Name	Inaugurated	Left Office	Notes
Vice President	Joseph W.S. deGraft-Johnson	September 24, 1979	December 31, 1981	Deposed in a coup d'état
	Vacant	December 31, 1981	January 7, 1993
Vice President	Kow Nkensen Arkaah	January 7, 1993	January 7, 1997
Vice President	John Atta Mills	January 7, 1997	January 7, 2001
Vice President	Alhaji Aliu Mahama	January 7, 2001	January 7, 2009
Vice President	John Dramani Mahama	January 7, 2009	July 24, 2012	Succeeded to the Presidency after the death of President Mills
	Vacant	July 24, 2012	August 6, 2012
Vice President	Kwesi Amissah-Arthur	August 6, 2012	Incumbent

References

1. Chapter 17 Article 211 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana
2. Chapter 15 Article 201 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana
3. Chapter 16 Article 206 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana