Ghana
This country page describes, in brief, data that TJET has compiled on regime transitions, intrastate conflict episodes, and transitional justice mechanisms. For details on the data included on this page, view the FAQ.
For Ghana, TJET has collected information on: seven amnesties between 1975 and 1993; 37 domestic trials starting between 1973 and 2018; one reparations policy created in 2004; and one truth commission mandated in 2002.
Select any transitional justice mechanism in the table below to view a timeline in the figure.
Country Background
Democratic Transition
Based on well-known democracy data, TJET records three democratic transitions starting in 1970, 1979, and 1996.
Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.
Violent Conflict
Based on the Uppsala Conflict Data Program, TJET records two violent intrastate conflict episodes between 1981 and 1983 (during two calendar years), involving two distinct armed opposition groups fighting against the government.
Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions. Source: UCDP Dyadic Dataset version 23.1, https://ucdp.uu.se/downloads/index.html#dyadic.
Transitional Justice Data
As of 2020, Ghana ranks 85th out of 174 on TJET’s legacy of violence index. For a full list of country rankings over time, view the index page, and for an explanation of the index, view the Methods & FAQs page.
Amnesties
Ghana had seven amnesties between 1975 and 1993. Two occurred in the context of democratic transition. Two were passed after internal armed conflict. Three amnesties released political prisoners. One amnesty forgave human rights violations.
Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.
Domestic Trials
TJET has compiled data on 37 domestic prosecutions between 1973 and 2018. These include 33 regular human rights prosecutions of state agents, in which four persons were convicted; one intrastate conflict prosecution of state agents, in which one person was convicted; two intrastate conflict prosecutions of opposition members, in which three persons were convicted; and one opposition prosecution of state agents or opposition members, in which one person was convicted.
Click on accused records for data on convictions. Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.
Reparations Policies
Ghana implemented one reparations policy between 2006 and 2007. According to available information, there was a total of 3000 individual beneficiaries. One reparations policy provided collective benefits.
Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.
Truth Commissions
Ghana mandated one truth commission in 2002. The commission completed its operations in 2004. The commission issued a final report, which is publicly available. The report included recommendations for reparations and institutional reforms.
Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.