<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 6 March 1957 (from UK)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> new constitution approved 28 April 1992
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> based on English common law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> universal at 18
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state and head of government:</hi> President Jerry John RAWLINGS (since 3 November 1992) election last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Cabinet; president nominates members subject to approval by the Parliament
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> National Democratic Congress, Jerry John Rawlings; New Patriotic Party, Albert Adu BOAHEN; People's Heritage Party, Alex Erskine; various other smaller parties
<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with a large black five-pointed star centered in the gold band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band