Historic Foundations of Ghana Legal Systems

Fill-in-the-blank flashcards covering key dates, laws, and institutional developments in the historic foundations of Ghana’s legal system.

Ghana became the first Sub-Saharan African country to gain independence on __.

6th March 1957

The __ Constitution of 1957 established a parliamentary democracy with a Prime Minister and Governor-General.

Independence

Under the 1957 Constitution, __ served as Ghana’s first Prime Minister.

Kwame Nkrumah

The __ Constitution of 1960 introduced a presidential system with Nkrumah as President.

Republican

The __ Act of 1958 allowed detention without trial for up to five years (later ten).

Preventive Detention

In 1964 Nkrumah declared himself __ and created a one-party state.

President for Life

Nkrumah was overthrown on __ by a military coup that installed the National Liberation Council.

24th February 1966

The 1969 Constitution restored civilian rule under Prime Minister __.

Kofi Busia

The 1969 Constitution vested judicial power solely in the __.

Judiciary (led by the Chief Justice)

Colonel Ignatius Acheampong’s __ overthrew the Busia government in 1972.

National Redemption Council

The __ (AFRC) staged a coup in 1979 before handing power to Dr. Hilla Limann.

Armed Forces Revolutionary Council

Jerry John Rawlings led the __ that toppled Limann’s government in 1981.

Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC)

The __ Constitution ushered in the Fourth Republic on 7th January 1993.

1992

The Bond of __ marked the start of British legal influence in the Gold Coast.

1844

Under the Bond of 1844 the British promised __ in return for jurisdiction over Fante states.

protection

The Bond outlawed human sacrifices and the practice of __.

panyaring

Crimes such as murder and robbery were to be tried jointly by British officers and __ under the Bond.

local chiefs

The first Supreme Court in the Gold Coast was established in __.

1853

The __ Ordinance of 1876 created a Supreme Court for the Gold Coast Crown Colony.

Supreme Court

The 1876 Ordinance introduced a dual legal system of Received English Law and __ Law.

Customary

The __ (Full Court) under the 1876 Ordinance consisted of two judges including the Chief Justice.

Court of Appeal

A single Supreme Court judge sitting as a __ Court exercised original jurisdiction across the colony.

Divisional

English common law, equity, and statutes of general application were applied only where __ circumstances allowed.

local

Magistrates’ Courts under the 1876 scheme sat in provincial capitals and acted as __ of the Supreme Court.

ex officio commissioners

The Native Jurisdiction Ordinance of 1878 limited native courts’ authority to __ unless a non-native consented.

natives

The 1883 Native Jurisdiction Ordinance empowered __ to form native tribunals under customary law.

chiefs

Amendments in __ created graded native courts with varying jurisdiction.

1910

By 1949 four grades of native courts were transformed into a unified __ system.

local court

Assessors could assist local magistrates particularly in complex __ disputes.

land

The Courts Act of __ established a unified court system of superior and inferior courts.

1971

Under military rule in 1972, the __ replaced the Supreme Court at the apex of the system.

Court of Appeal

Public __ were introduced in 1981 to handle specified offenses.

Tribunals

The 1992 Constitution re-established the __ as the highest appellate court.

Supreme Court

Ghana’s legal system blends colonial heritage with __ to remain relevant to its people.

local customs

Judge Felix Frankfurter noted that it is the __ and not the legislature that citizens primarily feel.

courts