Formerly known as the Gold Coast because of the abundance of gold, the name was changed to Ghana after attaining independence from British colonial rule on 6th March 1957.
The country is named after one of the ancient Sudanese Empires, which flourished between the 4th and 10th centuries. Subsequently, the area was divided among several kingdoms, of which the most important were the Fanti, who occupied the coastal region, and the Ashanti, whose territory was further inland. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive in the late 15th century.
During the next 300 years, the Gold Coast became a major trading centre, mainly in gold and slaves. From the beginning of the 19th century, an increasingly assertive Ashanti kingdom drove out many of the European colonists. The important exception was the British who, allied with the rival Fanti kingdom, defeated the Ashanti in 1874 and took control of the whole of the Gold Coast. The Ashanti-controlled interior was subjugated over the next 15 years and converted into protectorates', locally ruled under British supervision. The colony's lands were supplemented in 1917 by parts of neighbouring Togoland which was formerly under German control. Together, these formed what in 1957 became the independent state of Ghana - the first British territory in Africa to be decolonised
Three years after independence (1960) Ghana became a Republic with Dr Kwame Nkrumah, leader of the Convention People's Party (CPP) as the first President.
Under Dr Nkrumah, Ghana made rapid and remarkable progress in education, industrial and infrastructure development and in the provision of social services. At the same time, the country played a leading role in international affairs - especially the United Nations and Commonwealth - in the struggle for the liberation of other African countries, most of which were still under colonial rule. However, Nkrumah's growing dictatorial tendencies at home disaffected many, especially in the armed forces, and in the end it was they who in February 1966 overthrew the CPP Government in a coup led by Colonel Emmanuel Kotoka.
One of the most prominent figures in recent Ghanaian politics is Jerry John Rawlings, a former Air Force Flight Lieutenant, who first came to power as the leader of coups in 1979 and 1981.
On the political front, President Rawlings and the ruling party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) introduced a new constitution in 1992 before submitting themselves to the verdict of the electorate and winning both the presidency and a huge majority of legislature seats. Both Rawlings and the NDC were re-elected in 1996..
In December 2000, a closely-fought election pitted Rawlings' former deputy John Atta Mills, standing for the NDC, against John Agyekum Kufour, leader of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and several minor candidates. The contest was dubbed 'the battle of the bores', acknowledging the failure of either main candidate to match the charisma of the outgoing Rawlings. However, charisma is not an essential qualification for governing a country and Kufour won the run-off against Mills and took office at the beginning of 2001. The NPP also replaced the NDC as the largest party in the Ghanaian Parliament.
In December 2004, John Kufuor won again the contest against John Atta Mills and he was reelected for another 4-year-term, at the end of which he retired. .
In 2008, John Atta Mills, who was a candidate to the Presidential Election for the third time, finally won the contest against the NPP candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo after the run-off with less than 1% difference. New members of the Parliament were also elected and NDC had the majority.
John Atta Mills died suddenly on the 24th of July 2012, just a few months before the next Presidential Election planned in Decembre 2012. According to Ghana's constitution, the Vice President, John Dramani Mahama was sworn in on the 24th of July 2012.
John Dramani Mahama was also the candidate of the NDC for the Presidential Election held in December 2012..
Ghana practice a multiparty
parliamentary democracy based on a
constitution. The Fourth Republican
constitution, accepted by referendum and
came into force in 1992, provides for a
unitary state governed by a president
(and cabinet ministers) and a unicameral
National Assembly. The presidency has a
four year term and an incumbent can
serve a maximum of two years. The
Parliament has 230 seats and is elected
for a four year term.
The Supreme Court headed by the Chief
Justice at the apex of the Judiciary
constitutes the third arm of Government
in Ghana. The legal system is based on
common English law, where the courts are
bound to develop the notions of fairness
to an individual. The constitution also
makes provision for continued
recognition of traditional Chiefs and
customary laws.
Local Government: A decentralized central government administration has been fostered at local government level where there are 10 regional co-coordinating councils, 110 metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies which serve to involve grassroots participation in the formation and implementation of government policies and general development of their area of jurisdiction.
In December 2000, a closely-fought election pitted Rawlings' former deputy John Atta Mills, standing for the NDC, against John Agyekum Kufour, leader of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and several minor candidates. The contest was dubbed 'the battle of the bores', acknowledging the failure of either main candidate to match the charisma of the outgoing Rawlings. However, charisma is not an essential qualification for governing a country and Kufour won the run-off against Mills and took office at the beginning of 2001. The NPP also replaced the NDC as the largest party in the Ghanaian Parliament.
In December 2004, John Kufuor won again the contest against John Atta Mills and he was reelected for another 4-year-term, at the end of which he retired. .
