Ghanaian Presidents

Officially styled President of the Republic of Ghana and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Ghana, the President of Ghana is the elected head of state and head of government of Ghana. Since 1960, at least, 14 Ghanaian presidents have emerged, although not all the presidents of Ghana actually went to school, there is quite a number that actually went to school, about three of them actually got their Ph.D.

We’ve dug deep to discover this to be true. This list has been arranged in ascending order from the most qualified to the least. Here’s a comprehensive list of Ghanaian Presidents and Academic Qualifications they’ve obtained from 1960 till date.

Ghanaian Presidents’ Academic Qualifications: 1960 Till Date

Dr. H.C. Kwame Nkrumah (1 July 1960 – 26 Feb 1966)

Kwame Nkruma

Academic Qualifications

He obtained Teacher’s Certificate from Achimota Training College (1930)  Achimota School, Accra.

Bachelor of Arts degree (1939)  Lincoln University of Pennsylvania

Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree (1942)  Lincoln University of Pennsylvania

Master of Science degree in education (1942) University of Pennsylvania

M.A. in philosophy (1943) University of Pennsylvania

He was honored with a doctorate degree in law at Lincoln University and most outstanding Professor of the year by the Lincolonian (1945)

Major-General Joseph Arthur Ankrah (26 February 1966 – 2 April 1969)

Major-General Joseph Arthur Ankrah

Academic Qualifications

He obtained the Senior Cambridge School Certificate (1937) at Accra Academy

Brigadier Akwasi Amankwa Afrifa (3 September 1969 – 7 August 1970)

Brigadier Akwasi Amankwa Afrifa

Academic Qualifications

Presbyterian Boys Boarding School, Mampong (A/R)

Adisadel College, Cape Coast (C/R) (1952 – 65)

Regular Officer’s Training School (1957 – 1958)

Edward Akufo-Addo (31 August 1970 – 13 January 1972)

Edward Akufo-Addo

Academic Qualifications

Government Boys Primary and Middle School – Kumasi (1954)

BSc (Economics) degree (1967) University of Ghana, Legon.

Obtained a Law Degree and was called to the bar at Lincoln Inn – L.L.B (1961 – 64)

Colonel Ignatius Kutu Acheampong (9 October 1975 – 5 July 1978)

Colonel Ignatius Kutu Acheampong

Academic Qualifications

Attended Traboum Elementary, School St. Peter’s Catholic School, Kumasi (1945)

Obtained Middle School Leaving Certificate, G.C.E. ‘O’ Level, Diploma In Commerce

Enlisted as a Private in Ghana Army (1951)

Cadet Training Course, Mons, Aldershot (1959)

Attended various courses including Personnel Administration at the Staff College, USA. Commanding Officer 5th and 6th Battalion (1959 – 66)

Lieutenant-General Frederick Fred William Kwasi Akuffo (5 July 1978 – 4 June 1979)

Fred William Kwasi Akuffo

Academic Qualifications

Attended Presbyterian Secondary School, Odumasi Krobo (E/R) 1957

Attended Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, UK (1958 – 60)

Parachute Training, UK (1961)

Staff College United Kingdom (1967)

National Defense College – India (1973)

Dr. Hilla Limann (24 Sep 1979 – 31Dec 1981)

Dr. Hilla Limann

Academic Qualifications

BA (Hons) degree in History at the University of London

Ph.D. in Political Science and Constitutional Law at the University of Paris.

John Agyekum Kufuor (7th Jan 2001 – 7th Jan 2009)

John Agyekum Kufuor

Academic Qualifications

Government Boys Primary and Middle School – Kumasi (1954 )

Student Prempeh College – Kumasi

Obtained a Law Degree and was called to the Barat Lincoln Inn – L.L.B (1959 – 61)

Oxford University, he took further studies in Law (1961 – 64)

John Evans Atta Mills (7 Jan 2009 – 24 July 2012)

President John Evans Atta Mills of Ghana speaks during a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama in the Oval Office

Academic Qualifications

General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Level (1963) – Achimota Secondary School

Bachelor’s degree and a professional certificate in Law (1967) – University of Ghana

LLM (1968). London School of Economics and Political Science

Ph.D.D in Law (1971). School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London

John Dramani Mahama (24 July 2012 – January 7, 2017)

John Dramani Mahama, President of Ghana, speaks during the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly September 26, 2012 at UN headquarters in New York. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/GettyImages)

Academic Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in history (1981). The University of Ghana, Legon

Postgraduate diploma in communication studies (1986). The University of Ghana, Legon

Postgraduate degree in social psychology (1988)

Nana Akufo-Addo (7 January 2017 -)

Academic Qualifications

Government Boys School, Adabraka, and later the Rowe Road School (now Kinbu), both in Accra Central.

O-Level and A-Level – Lancing College, Sussex, England

Philosophy, Politics and Economics course – New College, Oxford (1962)

BSc (Econ) degree – the University of Ghana, Legon, (1967)

Law – Inner Temple in the United Kingdom

Born William Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, president Akufo-Addo was called to the English Bar (Middle Temple) in July 1971 and the Ghanaian bar in July 1975.

Quick Facts You Need To Know

1. Eligibility: As stipulated in Article 62 of Chapter 8 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, a person is qualified for election as the president of Ghana if he or she is a citizen of Ghana by birth and has attained the age of forty years, among other things.

2. Swearing In: A newly elected president is sworn in by the Chief Justice at the Independence Square in Accra before the citizens of Ghana.

3. Insignia: The president receives the president’s sword and the presidential seat (a neatly-carved seat decorated with gold) immediately after he takes the oath of office. These items are used to display the rank of his office and are usually used on special occasions.