Background: History - Colonialism & Independence
Ghana's history is easily divided by when independence was achieved from the United Kingdom on March 6, 1957.
Pre-Independence: "The Gold Coast"
Ghana was first colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th Century, who promptly discovered a large wealth of natural resources (gold), as well as human resources (slaves). They built their first trading castle, Elmina, in 1482. The Portuguese were quickly followed by the Dutch, and then later the British, Danes and Swedes.
By 1874, the only European power left in the Gold Coast was the British, so they officially crowned it as a colony. Cape Coast Castle (pictured below) served as their headquarters dating back to 1662, and is infamous for its many large dungeons that were used to house hundreds upon hundreds of slaves before they were shipped away.
After World War II, Ghana began to unite and mobilize against the British. The first political party, the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC: "Self Government Within the Shortest Time Possible) was started in 1947. After a boycott on all European goods was initiated by the UGCC, riots broke out throughout the country. The colonial powers blamed, arrested and detained six political figures, who are famously known as the "Big Six" and include J.B Danquah, Kwame Nkrumah, Obetsebi Lamptey, Akuffo Addo, William Ofori Atta and Ako Adjei.
In 1949, Kwame Nkrumah started his own, more radical, political party, the Convention People's Party, and after boycotts an election was arranged for 1951. Though imprisoned at the time, and likely due to his imprisonment, Nkrumah was seen as a national hero and won the elections easily. He was appointed as Prime Minister, and in 1953 submitted a revised constitution that was enacted in 1954. This new constitution essentially made Ghana completely self governing.
In 1956, the British Secretary of State announced that if after a new election, legislation for independence passed by majority, then they would be granted independence. Independence was finally achieved on March 6, 1957.
Post-Independence: 4 Republics
First Republic: Ghana become a republic in 1960, and Nkrumah's government and the first Republic's constitution were overthrown by the National Liberation Council in 1966.
Second Republic: The Progress Party (PP), headed by Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia, won the 1969 elections, but were overthrown by a military coup in 1972, instating the National Redemption Council (later renamed the Supreme Military Council.
Third Republic: After a mutiny in 1979 by officers and men of the Ghana Armed Forces , the SMC was overthrown and replaced by Armed Forces Revolutionary Council. After only three months, the AFRC handed down power to the People's National Party (PNP) who won that year's election.
In 1981, the Provisional National Defense Council gained power through yet another coup, and stayed in power until 1993. In the 1992 elections, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) won and took over power in 1993.
Fourth Republic: Both the 2000 and 2008 elections had extremely close results. Under the Ghanaian constitution, a candidate must win by 50% and one vote to be made president, but with seven candidates this did not happen. Instead, only the votes for the top two candidates were considered, and this was used to determine the winner.
The most recent president, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, was elected in 2008, and passed away in July 2012, about six months before the next election (and while I was in Ghana). His vice president, John Dramani Mahama, took over as acting president and is serving until the elections in December 2012.
Pre-Independence: "The Gold Coast"
Ghana was first colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th Century, who promptly discovered a large wealth of natural resources (gold), as well as human resources (slaves). They built their first trading castle, Elmina, in 1482. The Portuguese were quickly followed by the Dutch, and then later the British, Danes and Swedes.
By 1874, the only European power left in the Gold Coast was the British, so they officially crowned it as a colony. Cape Coast Castle (pictured below) served as their headquarters dating back to 1662, and is infamous for its many large dungeons that were used to house hundreds upon hundreds of slaves before they were shipped away.
After World War II, Ghana began to unite and mobilize against the British. The first political party, the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC: "Self Government Within the Shortest Time Possible) was started in 1947. After a boycott on all European goods was initiated by the UGCC, riots broke out throughout the country. The colonial powers blamed, arrested and detained six political figures, who are famously known as the "Big Six" and include J.B Danquah, Kwame Nkrumah, Obetsebi Lamptey, Akuffo Addo, William Ofori Atta and Ako Adjei.
In 1949, Kwame Nkrumah started his own, more radical, political party, the Convention People's Party, and after boycotts an election was arranged for 1951. Though imprisoned at the time, and likely due to his imprisonment, Nkrumah was seen as a national hero and won the elections easily. He was appointed as Prime Minister, and in 1953 submitted a revised constitution that was enacted in 1954. This new constitution essentially made Ghana completely self governing.
In 1956, the British Secretary of State announced that if after a new election, legislation for independence passed by majority, then they would be granted independence. Independence was finally achieved on March 6, 1957.
Post-Independence: 4 Republics
First Republic: Ghana become a republic in 1960, and Nkrumah's government and the first Republic's constitution were overthrown by the National Liberation Council in 1966.
Second Republic: The Progress Party (PP), headed by Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia, won the 1969 elections, but were overthrown by a military coup in 1972, instating the National Redemption Council (later renamed the Supreme Military Council.
Third Republic: After a mutiny in 1979 by officers and men of the Ghana Armed Forces , the SMC was overthrown and replaced by Armed Forces Revolutionary Council. After only three months, the AFRC handed down power to the People's National Party (PNP) who won that year's election.
In 1981, the Provisional National Defense Council gained power through yet another coup, and stayed in power until 1993. In the 1992 elections, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) won and took over power in 1993.
Fourth Republic: Both the 2000 and 2008 elections had extremely close results. Under the Ghanaian constitution, a candidate must win by 50% and one vote to be made president, but with seven candidates this did not happen. Instead, only the votes for the top two candidates were considered, and this was used to determine the winner.
The most recent president, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, was elected in 2008, and passed away in July 2012, about six months before the next election (and while I was in Ghana). His vice president, John Dramani Mahama, took over as acting president and is serving until the elections in December 2012.