Acts & Regulations
"A written Constitution such as ours is not an ordinary Act of Parliament. It embodies the will of a people. It also mirrors their history. Account, therefore, needs to be taken of it as a landmark in a people's search for progress." - Sowah JSC in Tuffour v AG, 1960.
This is the primary law that governs the criminal justice system, including the procedures for both summary and indictable proceedings.It provides the legal framework for how criminal cases are investigated, prosecuted, and adjudicated in Ghana
The High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2004 (C.I. 47) govern how civil cases are handled in Ghana's High Court. The main goal of these rules is to ensure a just, speedy, and cost-effective resolution of disputes.
The Contracts Act, 1960 (Act 25) is the principal legislation governing contract law in Ghana​. The Act regulates the process of transferring legal rights to another person. It further provides the elements of a valid contract in Ghana.
The act provides the legal framework for all credit transactions in Ghana, including credit agreements, facilities, and guarantees. It ​​establishes the legal framework for credit in Ghana, outlining the rights and obligations of both borrowers and lenders
The Act consolidates previous laws on deposit-taking and establishes licensing requirements for banks and specialised institutions, ensuring the stability of the financial system and the protection of depositors.
The Electronic Transactions Act, 2008 (Act 772) is the law that regulates electronic communications and transactions in Ghana. Its purpose is to facilitate the use of electronic transactions while ensuring legal certainty and consumer protection.
This Act consolidates and updates previous company laws and introduced several significant changes to modernize Ghana's corporate landscape. The Act provides for the incorporation of several types of companies, each with different structures and liabilities.
The Alternative Dispute Resolution Act, 2010 (Act 798). It provides a legal framework for settling disputes outside of the formal court system through arbitration, mediation, and customary arbitration.
The Sale of Goods Act sets out the framework for the rights and obligations of both sellers and buyers in commercial transactions. It addresses issues such as contract formation, implied terms, transfer of property and risk, and remedies for breach of contract.
In Ghana, companies are regulated by
the Companies Act, 2019 (Act 992) and the Companies Regulations, 2023 (LI 2473). The legal framework, overseen by the Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC), addresses key aspects of corporate governance, formation, and compliance
This legislation aims to ensure fairness, transparency, and efficiency in public procurement processes. The Act applies to all goods, services, and works financed by public funds and establishes the framework for procurement entities and the PPA.
The Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036) is the land law in Ghana that consolidates and reforms land laws to improve land management and tenure. It defines different types of land interests, including the allodial title and usufructuary interest, and includes provisions for the registration of deeds, protection against land fraud, and the legal recognition of long-term occupation by non-Ghanaians under certain conditions.
The main legislation that defines criminal offenses and their corresponding penalties and punishments in Ghana. It covers various offenses, including those against the person, sexual offenses, and offenses against public order
The Matrimonial Causes Act, 1971 (Act 367) is
the primary law governing divorce and other matrimonial proceedings in Ghana.
It stipulates that the sole ground for divorce is the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. This can be demonstrated by providing evidence of adultery and intolerability, unreasonable behavior, desertion for at least two years, or separation for at least two years with consent or at least five years without consent
The Wills Act, 1971 (Act 360) is the legislation that governs the making, execution, and validity of wills in Ghana.
​The Act does not affect the validity of oral testamentary dispositions under customary law
The primary law governing the administration of a deceased person's estate. This act deals with the process of distributing an estate after a person's death, including granting letters of administration. The law also addresses how foreign grants of probate or letters of administration can be sealed and recognized in Ghana.
The GIPC Act is the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act. This legislation governs investment in Ghana and established the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) to promote, coordinate, and facilitate both domestic and foreign investment
The Customary Marriage and Divorce Registration Law 1985 mandates the registration of customary marriages and divorces in Ghana
Ghana's Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843) is the primary law that governs the collection, use, and storage of personal data.
Ghana's Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038) established the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) to regulate cybersecurity, prevent threats, and promote a secure digital environment. The Act provides a legal framework for protecting information systems and mandates regulations for Critical Information Infrastructure owners and cybersecurity service providers
The Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) is a law enacted in Ghana to revise and consolidate the rules relating to minerals and mining in the country. It established the Minerals Commission as the principal institution for regulating the mining sector.
The Income Tax Act is the primary legislation governing income tax in Ghana.
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For more information, visit the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) website.
PNDCL 111 is the Ghanaian Intestate Succession Law of 1985, a law that governs how a deceased person's self-acquired property is distributed when they die without a valid will. The law aims to protect the nuclear family, particularly spouses and children, by granting them the exclusive right to the matrimonial home and household chattels, and it establishes a uniform standard for distributing the deceased's remaining property.