The Republic of Ghana is a West African country with a coastline on the Gulf of Guinea. It is surrounded by Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Togo, and the Atlantic Ocean.
Ghana achieved independence before any other black African country, as the Republic of Ghana was formed in 1957, having been previously known as the Gold Coast.
Archaeologists believe that the area of Ghana was inhabited as early as 40,000 years ago, including evidence of toolmaking, pottery, iron smelting, wooden canoes, and agriculture. Tribal groups were formed about 2,000 years ago. At one time, the whole of West Africa was a thick primary forest, and the Sahara Desert was much further away than it is today. Areas to the north and east of this forest were probably inhabited first, with later migrations into the nearly impenetrable forest areas.
Arab explorers described the ancient empire of Ghana in the 8th century. Concentrated about five hundred miles northwest of modern Ghana, this was the first great West African empire. From the 2nd to the 11th centuries, With a huge empire with a strong military and well organized trade routes, Ghana controlled the land around the current countries of Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal. Ghana palaces and universities at a time when Europe was in the medieval ages.
Eventually, the empire of Ghana declined. People from ancient Ghana probably migrated south to the current location of Ghana in order to avoid becoming subjugated by more powerful Islamic empires.
From the 12th century on, there was a settled population in what is now Ghana, who traded in gold and kola nuts with Timbuktu and elsewhere in North Africa. Although there were fishing communities along the coast, there were no coastal trades until after European countries entered the scene. Ghana existed, not as a nation with borders and a shared identity, but of various tribes who migrated in and out of the area, establishing tribal boundaries, alliances, and rivalries.
The Fante and the Ga-Adangbe inhabited the coastal areas, while the Ewe were in the mountains to the east, the Ashanti in the central forests, and the Moshi-Dagomba in the north. If not for the interference of European powers, Africa would not look like it does today, but would consist of more natural states for the various tribes. Instead, modern Africa is the result of European powers carving out the continent to fit their own purposes, and usually to the detriment of its inhabitants.
The first Europeans to arrive were the Portuguese, who came in 1471. Soon, they were followed by the British, French, Dutch, Germans, and even the Danish and Swedes. At first, the Europeans were content to trade guns, tobacco, alcohol, shells, and trinkets for the natural resources of Africa, which included its people. First, European guns fueled fierce wars between tribes.
Before long, the coast of West Africa was dotted with European forts, and the slave trade was underway. The African slave trade made wealthy men of white slave traders and plantation owner, while stripping Africa of its people and its human resources. It was the Africans themselves who sold other Africans into slavery by trading their captives of war, and they allowed the European slave traders to build slave castles along the coast. This continued for a period of about two centuries before Britain abolished slave trading, and that wasn't until it had lost its American colonies and its greatest market for slaves.
In 1822, Britain appointed a governor to the coastal territory, but he was beheaded by local inhabitants two years later. In 1844, Ghana became a British colony, as the Europeans divided the continent amongst themselves, creating artificial divisions that remain today.
The first large-scale inland Christian missionary movement began in the 1820s, although missionaries had been on the coast for centuries. These were the first Europeans who wanted to do something for the local population rather than taking something away from them, and they were largely well received. They built clinics, schools, and churches, and wrote textbooks in the native languages.
The Gold Coast was a British colony for 113 years. Although no longer engaged in the slave trade, Britain's interest was still in exploiting the natural resources of the Gold Coast, namely its gold, but also timber and cocoa, all of which were taken from the country in huge quantities.
Like many other African countries, the years after achieving independence were bloody ones. Ghana experienced several successful and attempted coups. It wasn't until 2000 that Ghana had its first election that resulted in a peaceful succession of power. Today, its government is considered stable, and one of the least corrupt in Africa. The language of the state is English, which is widely used by its people, along with several ethnic languages.
Categories
News & Media OutletsThings to Do & Places to Go |
 
 
Recommended Resources
Located in Accra, the central bank of Ghana was formed in 1957 to develop financial and monetary policies. Its monetary policy framework, historical policy rate decisions and trends, policy reports, and news highlights are set forth, along with bill auction results, licensing policies and guidelines, credit reporting data formats, and consumer protection information. Payment and banking systems, statistics, and publications are included.
http://www.bog.gov.gh/
Located in Accra, the Russian embassy provides various services to Russians in Ghana, as well as offering information and services to residents of Ghana and others, including general information about Russia, its regions, foreign policies, consular information, and proposals on economic cooperation between the two countries. A guide to doing business in Russia is included, and public statements are posted to the site.
http://www.ghana.mid.ru/index2-en.html
Offered by IntraWorld Services of Ghana & TransWorld Services of Canada, Ghana Airtime was created as a means for Ghanaians living abroad to send airtime to the mobile phones of their friends, relatives, and business partners back home in Ghana, as this is less expensive than sending small amounts of money to be used for the same purpose. Its services are described, as well as how it works.
https://www.ghanaairtime.com/
The Ghana resource lists websites and businesses within the country by business type or topic, including a description, URL, phone number, photographs, address, photos, and a map showing its location. New listings may be suggested through the site. Readers may search for Ghana companies or services by location or keyword, or they may opt to browse topical or locational categories. New and updated listings are highlighted.
http://www.ghanayello.com/
The site allows private sellers and dealers to list cars for sale for free, and Ghanaians can shop for a car according to his needs, searching through several criteria, including brand, price range, year, color, mileage, whether it is powered by gas, diesel or petrol. Sellers are encouraged to upload a photo or photos and to offer details about cars that are being listed for sale, and potential buyers may contact sellers by email.
http://www.ghanacar24.com/
The registrar for .gh and .africa domains offers registration of domain names for Ghana individuals, organizations, and businesses, as well as email and web services, mobile and applications development, blockchain solutions for academic institutions, and the Blockchain Academy, a school for blockchain developers and researchers. The company also facilitates the buying and selling of Bitcoins.
http://www.ghana.com/
Ghana schools and educational resources may be located through this directory, which lists universities, technical universities, nursing training facilities, basic schools, nursery schools, primary schools, junior high schools, high schools, technical institutions, and colleges of education by category, as well as links to governmental links relating to education. New resources may be submitted to the directory for consideration.
http://www.ghanaedudirectory.com/
Established as the agency of the government of Ghana which advises and ensures the implementation of Ghana’s laws and regulations pertaining to immigration issues, regulating and monitoring the entry, residence, employment, and exit of all foreigners and citizens entering or leaving the country of Ghana. Its organizational structure and regulations regarding all issues of immigration and residence are featured here.
http://www.ghanaimmigration.org/
Police services were introduced by the British colonial authorities when the area was the Gold Coast in 1821, which was formalized in 1894 when the Civil Police Force was formed and is now known as the Ghana Police Service. Its history, organizational structure, departments, divisions, and contacts are posted to the site. Other resources include crime alerts, scam alerts, a directory of police stations, and downloads.
http://www.police.gov.gh/
With offices in Accra, Ghana the real estate agency and property developer facilitates the buying and selling of real estate in Ghana, including land for sale, residential and commercial properties, as well as those available for lease or rent, such as short-stay properties, corporate housing, or office spaces, as well as property developments, real estate news, and a blog. Potential buyers may search by location or price range.
http://www.ghanaprimeproperties.com/
The GRA was established by Parliament in 2009, as a merger of three revenue agencies. The official government web site specifies the GRA’s purpose, vision, mission, core values, goals, governing structure, and objects, along with tax information, its tax campaign, office locations, and online services. Taxpayer registration and domestic tax forms, presentations, and other legal documents may be downloaded from the site.
http://gra.gov.gh/
The site is devoted strictly to the promotion of Ghanaian music of all genres, including hip-hop, hiplife, gospel, and dancehall music, and MP3 sample downloads are available for several of the featured songs. Other resources include reviews of music or musicians, promotional articles, textual and audio interviews of Ghanaian musicians, music videos, and upcoming releases.
http://www.ghanasongs.com/
The official website for the Republic of Ghana outlines the country’s history and a profile, its regions, national pledge, flag, and anthem. Maps highlighting the country’s natural resources are featured, along with the government’s president, legislature, the council of state, ministries, ministers of state, deputy ministers, regional ministers, the judiciary, and government institutions. Photographs, video, and a library of official documents and reports are included.
http://www.ghana.gov.gh/
Ministry of Finance, Government of Ghana
The Ministry is a governmental agency charged with ensuring economic stability and promoting sustainable growth and development in Ghana. Its mission, key objectives, and functions are discussed, along with an overview of its organizational structure, divisions, departments, agencies, and management. Financial data, investor relations, and a variety of publications are put forth.
http://www.mofep.gov.gh/
Using the acronym for Strengthening, Transparency, Accountability, and Responsiveness, STAR-Ghana is an alliance made up of Christian Aid with Mango, Social Development Direct, Overseas Development Institute, Nkum Associates, and On Our Radar, the organization serves as a Ghanaian-owned organization to mobilize citizens around accountability. Its site publishes an anti-corruption call and offers schedules of informational sessions, calls for proposals, and service provider registrations.
http://www.star-ghana.org/
The Presidency, Republic of Ghana
Ghana is a West African country, bounded on the north by Burkina Faso, on the east by Togo, on the west by Ivory Coast, and on the south by the Atlantic Ocean. The official web site introduces the president of Ghana, the vice president, chief of staff, and ministers, and informs readers of presidential initiatives, presidential speeches, press releases, and the latest news. A gallery of photos is included.
http://www.presidency.gov.gh/
Located in Cape Coast, Ghana, the UCC was established in 1962 in order to train graduate teachers and has since added the training of doctors and healthcare professionals, education planners, administrators, and agriculturalists. Its colleges, institutes, centers, and school of graduate studies are defined, along with its admissions policies, research projects, and academic calendar.
http://www.ucc.edu.gh/
Founded in 1948, and originally known as the University College of the Gold Coast, the U of G is the oldest and largest of the public universities and colleges in Ghana. Its main campus is at Legon, but its medical school is in Korle Bu. Its academic and international programs, research facilities, opportunities, and reports, and admissions policies are put forth, along with calendars, schedules, and timetables.
http://www.ug.edu.gh/
Located in Accra, Ghana, the embassy provides a variety of services to United States citizens in Ghana, in the case of an arrest or death of a citizen, when an American has been a victim of a crime or needs assistance with visa or passport issues. The embassy may also be of assistance to Ghanaians or citizens of other countries who are seeking an education in the United States or to do business in the US.
https://gh.usembassy.gov/