Profiles: Countries

GHANA: Republic of Ghana

Ghana was the first colony in sub-saharan Africa to gain its independence, on 6th March 1957, under the rule of Kwane N’Krumah. He gained strong public support , but his advanced social policy and his support of the African nationalist movements made N’Krumah the target of the colonial powers. This forced him to become more authoritarian and to repress any kind of opposition, which in turn led to his downfall.

Ghana became a British colony under the name of Gold Coast in 1900. It was extended to include part of the former German colony of Togoland at the end of World War I in 1919. Following the elections won by Dr Krame Nkrumah and his Party in the early 1950's, the Gold Coast and British Togoland became in 1957 the independent state of Ghana. Ghana is now an African success story although not all has been peaceful since independence..

Nkrumah was overthrown in 1966, and after different military and civilian governments. Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, became head of state in a coup led by junior officers in 1979. He only remained in power a few months and after losing the elections to Dr Hilla Limann and the People's NationalParty, he stepped down.