The Legal Framework

The legal framework for the Presidential and Parliamentary elections includes a number of legal instruments addressing different aspects of the elections:

International legal instruments ratified by Ghana

1. 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
2. 1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
3. 1966 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)
4. 1952 Convention on the Political Rights of Women (CPRW)
5. 1990 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (MWC)

Regional legal instruments ratified by Ghana

1. 1981 African Charter on Human Rights and Peoples’ Rights (ACHRPR);
2. 2001 Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance Supplementary to the Protocol relating to Mechanism for Conflict Resolution, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security (ECOWAS).

The Constitution of Ghana

1. The Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, 1992 (as amended).

Laws relating to elections

1. Representation of the People Law (PNDC Law 284), 1992 (as amended)
2. Presidential Elections Law (PNDCL 285), 1992 (as amended)
3. Electoral Commission Act, 1993 (as amended)
4. Public Order Act, 1994  
5. Political Parties Law Act, 2000
6. Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (as amended)
7. Citizenship Act, 2000
8. Registration of Voters’ Public Elections (Registration Regulations), (C.I. 12) 1995
9. Public Elections Regulations (C.I. 15), 1996
10. Representation of the People (Parliamentary Constituencies) Instrument (C.I. 46), 2004