THE HISTORY OF GHANA
The Republic of Ghana is named after the medieval
Ghana Empire of West Africa. The actual name of the Empire was Wagadugu. Ghana
was the title of the kings who ruled the kingdom. It was controlled by Sundiata
in 1240 AD, and absorbed into the larger Mali Empire. (Mali Empire reached its
peak of success under Mansa Musa around1307.)
Geographically, the old
Ghana is 500 miles north of the present Ghana, and occupied the area between
Rivers Senegal and Niger.
Some inhabitants of present
Ghana had ancestors linked with the medieval Ghana. This can be traced down to
the Mande and Voltaic people of Northern Ghana--Mamprussi, Dagomba and the Gonja.
Anecdotal evidence connected
the Akans to this great Empire. The evidence lies in names like Danso shared by
the Akans of present Ghana and Mandikas of Senegal/Gambia who have strong links
with the Empire. There is also the matrilineal connection.
Gold Coast & European Exploration
Before
March 1957 Ghana was called the Gold Coast. The Portuguese who came to Ghana in
the 15th Century found so much gold between the rivers Ankobra and the Volta
that they named the place Mina - meaning Mine. The Gold Coast was later adopted
to by the English colonizers. Similarly, the French, equally impressed by the
trinkets worn by the coastal people, named The Ivory Coast, Cote d'Ivoire.
In 1482, the Portuguese
built a castle in Elmina. Their aim was to trade in gold, ivory and slaves. In
1481 King John II of Portugal sent Diego d'Azambuja to build this castle.
In 1598 the Dutch joined
them, and built forts at Komenda and Kormantsil. In 1637 they captured the
castle from the Portuguese and that of Axim in 1642 (Fort St Anthony). Other
European traders joined in by the mid 18th century. These were the English,
Danes and Swedes. The coastline were dotted by forts built by the Dutch, British
and the Dane merchants. By the latter part of 19th century the Dutch and the
British were the only traders left. And when the Dutch withdrew in 1874, Britain
made the Gold Coast a crown colony.
By 1901 the Ashanti and the
North were made a protectorate.
Britain and the Gold Coast.
The first
Britons arrived in the early 19th century as traders in Ghana. But with their
close relationship with the coastal people especially the Fantes, the Ashanti's
became their enemies. Some important dates and events:
1817 - 1821: Two ambassadors were sent to Kumasi to discuss
peace with King Osei Bonsu. This failed.
1823 - 1824: In Ashanti Denkyira war, Sir Charles Macarthy and
his Fante allies supported the Denkyiras.
Marcathy was killed.
1826: The Ashanti's were defeated in the Battle of
Kantamanto near Dodowa.
1831: George MacLean signed treaty with the Ashanti's.
600 ounces of Gold kept for the Ashanti's. Two
princes sent to Britain. Returned after 6 years
in 1842.
1844: Commander Hill and the bond of 1844
1863: Battle of Bobikuma. Britain defeated .
1864: Britain lost another war.
1873-1877: Kofi Karikari invaded Southern and coastal areas.
Major General Sir Garnet Woseley with British
expedition forces defeated the Ashanti's. Treaty
of Fomena in 1874. Ashanti forced to recognize the
Independence of all states south of the Pra
River.
1888: Nana Agyeman Prempeh I ascended the throne of the
Ashanti Kingdom.
1896: British troops marched to Kumasi, led by Sir
Francis Scott. The king was exiled first to the
Elmina Castle, then to Sierra Leone and later to
Seychels.
1900: Arnold Hodgson went to ask for the golden stool.
The Asantes were infuriated. Yaa Asantewaa, the
queen mother of Edwiso (Ejisu) led attack on the
British Fort in Kumasi.
1924: Nana Agyemang Prempeh I returned . Died in 1931.
Other
events
Events occurred that made Fantes and others to react:
Fante Confederation - In Mankesssim.
1897 Aboriginess right Protection society.
1925 Guggisburg Constitution
Economic and Social Development (Before 1957)
1874--Gold Mine in Wassa and Asante.
Between 1946-1950 gold export rose from 6 million pounds
to 9 million pounds.
1898--1927 Railway expansion in Ghana.
1928--Takoradi Harbour.
1878--Tetteh Quarshie brought cocoa from Fernado Po.
1885--Cocoa first eported to Britain.
1951--Revenue from cocoa was 60 million pounds.
Cocoa Marketing Board (CMB) was found in 1947.
Political Movements and Nationalism in Ghana
(NA (1945 - 1957)
The
educated Ghanaians had always been in the fore-front of constructive movements.
Names that come into mind are --Dr Aggrey, George Ferguson, John Mensah Sarbah.
Others like king Ghartey IV of Winneba, Otumfuo Osei Agyeman Prempeh I raised
the political consciousness of their subjects. However, movements towards
political freedom started soon after WWII.
This happened because
suddenly people realised the colonisation was a form of oppression, similar to
the oppression they have just fought against. The war veterans had become
radical. The myth surrounding the whiteman has been broken. The rulers were
considered economic cheats, their arogance had become very offensive. They had
the ruling class attitude, and some of the young District Commissioner (DC)
treated the old chiefs as if they were their subjects. Local pay was bad. No
good rural health or education policy. Up to 1950 the Govt Secondary schools in
the country were 2, the rest were built by the missionaries.
There was also the rejection
of African culture to some extent. Some external forces also contributed to this
feeling. African- Americans such as Marcus Garvey and WE Du Bois raised strong
Pan-African conscience.
In 1945 a conference was
held in Manchester to promote Pan African ideas. This was attended by Nkrumah of
Ghana, Azikwe of Nigeria and Wallace Johnson of Sierra Leone. The India and
Pakistani independence catalysed this desire.
Sir Alan Burns constitution
of 1946 provided new legislative council that was made of the Governor as the
President, 6 government officials, 6 nominated members and 18 elected members.
The executive council was
not responsible to the legislative council. They were only in advisory capacity,
and the governor did not have to take notice.
These forces made Dr J.B.
Danquah to form the United Gold Coast Conversion (UGCC) in 1947. Nkrumah was
invited to be the General Secretary to this party. Other officers were George
Grant (Paa Grant), Akuffo Addo, William Ofori Atta, Obetsebi Lamptey, Ako Agyei,
and J Tsiboe. Their aim was Independence for Ghana. They rejected the Burns
constitution.
Events hastened this desire
1948: Nii Kwabena Bone II--an Accra chief organised
the boycott of Europen and Syrian, Lebanese
goods.
28 Feb 1948: Ex-servicemen marched on Christianborg Castle to
hand petition to the governor about their poor
conditions. The order was given and 3 laid dead.
UGCC was held responsible and its officers were
detained. (The dead were sergeant Adjetey,
Corporal Attipoe, and Private Odartey Lamptey).
The six detained were Kwame Nkrumah, Obetsebi
Lamptey, Ako Adjei, Ofori-Atta, Dr Danquah and
Akuffo Addo.
Mr Aiken Watson was appointed by the British
Government to look into disturbances. He
recommended a new constitution. Mr J Cousey
headed this committee.
1949: Internal trouble in UGCC. Nkrumah broke off to
form his own Convention Peoples' Party (CPP),
with the slogan of SELF GOVERNMENT NOW.
1951: First General election . CPP won 34 seats , UGCC
--3. Kwame Nkrumah who was in prison for
positive action, won the seat in central Accra,
and was released to become the leader of Govt
business, and Prime Minister on 21 March 1952.
1954: New Constitution with assembly and speaker. 104
elected representatives. CPP --72 seats, Northern
People's Party (NPP) - 15, Independents - 11, and
others - 6.
The NLM
(National Liberation Movement ) was formed by linguist Baffour Akoto. Leader was
J B Danquah, and Dr K.A. Bussia - member. This group wanted a federal
government.
1956: There was another election. CPP won 72 of the
104 seats. The NLM and its allies won the
remaining seats and so became the parliamentary
opposition. The former British Mandated Togoland
also voted to join the Gold Coast--Ghana.
1957: Independence.
1-7-60: Republic of Ghana, with Nkrumah as the President.
Immediate Benefits
Free
primary and middle school education. Increased infrastructure in roads, rail,
Black Star Shipping Line, and Hospitals. And of course--THE GHANA BLACK STAR
FOOTBALL TEAM-- that evokes sentiments in Ghana.
Political highlights
1957 - independence, Nkrumah of CPP is PM, 2 key parties
1960 - declared republic, one party system, presidential system
1966 - military overthrow of 1st republic
1969 - 2nd republic, Busia of PP is PM, 2 key parties
1972 - military overthrow of 2nd republic
1978 - palace coup to restructure military government
1979 - junior officer uprising and military housecleaning
1979 - ushered third republic, Limann of PNP is President, 3 parties
1982 - military overthrow of 3rd republic
1983 - palace coup to restructure the military government
1992 - 4th republic, Rawlings of NDC is President, 2 parties **
1996 - 5th republic, Rawlings of NDC is President, 2 parties
2001 - 6th Republic, Kuffour (NPP) is President
Summary: multiparty system 16 years
military system 21 years
oneparty system 6 years
**
fraud allegations led to an electoral boycott resulting in an effective one
party system. Also, marks the first time when the head of a military regime had
contested in an election.
Economic highlights
1957
Inherited 200 million pounds from British
1957 to 1966
Development Projects/Policies:
socialist path to development
proliferation of state farms and industries
no linkages between farms and industries
universities and secondary schools (free for all)
health care facilities
negative NPV projects (e.g., Job 600)
WET (e.g., Akosombo Dam)
Price controls
emphasis on cocoa for export
Cost:
inheritance is fully spent (no more free lunch for the future)
balance of payment deficits
inflation
disguised unemployment
Foreign debts
1966 to 1972
-Privatization of state farms and industries
-university student loan scheme
-families asked to take more responsibility for education
-proliferation of private medical practice
-blue print for sewage system for the whole country
-devaluation to solve inherited problems
-elimination of price controls
-emphasis on staples for domestic consumption
Cost:
-unemployment
-foreign debts and servicing
-cedi value allowed to fall
-good excuse for military
1972 to 1979
Repudiate foreign debts
Operation feed yourself and industry
revaluation
price controls
import licensing
university loan scheme
CMB scholarships for education on whom you know basis
increase money supply
Cost:
-Kalabule
-inflation
-smuggling
1979
seize assets from cheats
burn down makola, the citadel of kalabule
enforce tax code
price controls
rationing
1979 to 1982
relax price controls
reestablish credibility with donor and donor countries
cost:
inflation persists
balance of payment problems persist
kalabule persists
1982 to 1984
socialist path to development
price controls
rationing
PDC's in charge of distribution
WDC's in charge an as part of the IMCC
use of force to control prices, smuggling
confiscate 50 cedis note
blame the rich
Cost:
embargo on Ghana
Inflation
queing
lack of medicine, food, transportation, etc.
Rawlings chain and necklace
1984 to 2000
Economic recovery program
free markets
layoffs at civil service
students bear more of cost
patients bear more of cost
stock exchange
PAMSCAD
more privatization of state industries
float the cedi
boost exports
VAT, then UNVAT
Cost
inflation
massive unemployment
schools/health care is broken down
interest rate at close to 50%
Goods available but not affordable
2001 ->
New Government under President Kuffour.