Pre-Independence: The modern state of Ghana is named after the ancient African empire that flourished until the 13th century and was situated close to the Sahara in the western Sudan. Ghana was the first African country south of the Sahara to achieve its independence. The portuguese were the first to arrive in Ghana in 1470 and they named the place where they settled as the Gold Coast. The name aptly describes the country's wealth in gold and natural resources. This remained the name until its independence when it was changed to Ghana. This was in 1957, and the colonial power was Britain. The legacies of the Portuguese include the Elmina Castle, which was built to serve as permanent trading base.(The Slave Trade)
The Elmina Castle
in Ghana
During the next three centuries, the English, Danes, Dutch, Germans, and Portuguese controlled various parts of the coastal areas. From 1826 to 1900, the British fought a series of campaigns against the Ashantis, whose kingdom was located inland. In 1902, they succeeded in establishing firm control over the Ashanti region and making the northern territories a protectorate.
Ghana became an independent state on March 6, 1957, when the United Kingdom relinquished its control over the Colony of the Gold Coast and Ashanti, the Northern Territories Protectorate, and British Togoland.
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The Independence movement was led by Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah who became the first President of the Republic of Ghana.
Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah
1st Republic
- July 1960-Feb. 1966
Miltary Rule: Period of Instability
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Edward
Akufo-Addo
Military Rule: Period of Instability
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Dr.
Hilla Limann
Modern Ghana: Ghana is currently ruled by Jerry John Rawlings who first came to power in 1979 when he led an unsuccessful military coup. In June 1979 Rawlings, freed from prison by fellow junior military officers, overthrew the government, and declared himself head of state. After a four-month purge of allegedly corrupt government officials and business leaders including the execution of Ignatius K. Acheampong and two other former military rulers and the expulsion of many Lebanese entrepreneurs (who had dominated the economy Rawlings returned Ghana to civilian rule.
Jerry
John RawlingsJerry John Rawlings seized power of Ghana's government in 1981 when he overthrew the Third Republic and ruled without a parliament or constitution. He permitted the drafting of a new constitution in 1992 and won reelection that same year. In 1996 he won reelection again and is currently the President. His term of office is up since this is election year but after serving two terms he can no longer stand for office.