There is some stability in Ghana politics, as they have now established themselves as a representative democratic republic. Mirroring the European system, the head of state shares legislative power with the Parliament. This particular system was established in the early eighties as a means to avoid dictatorial and military power grabs that impoverish the people.
Like so much of the world, the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries were embedded with colonial rule. Prior to this, Ghanians were the core of the Ashanti Empire. This empire was a military power with over 500,000 soldiers, and a tendency to engage in wars of expansion with neighboring communities.
Often these wars were intended to maintain control over territories under their rule, and to forcefully collect taxes from local tribes. They also served to secure travel routes from the coast to the interior of the African continent. As with much of this continent, the Ashanti Empire was involved in the slave trade long before the European colonists came to the region.
The Gold Coast made this area desirable to Europe, as there was a great deal of gold mined from there. Portuguese slave traders were the first Europeans to settle the area, and they established several forts during the thirteenth century. Along with the Portuguese, the Dutch Trading Company also maintained a presence for nearly a century.
The industrial age of Europe and North America sparked a decline in the world slave trade, finally ending in 1860. Now the British Empire had an eye to the Gold Coast in order to extract the rich abundance of raw materials from the region. A series of wars took place between England and the Ashanti Empire, allowing Europe to take several coastal cities.
Aided by Africans in the coastal cities who were quite comfortable with the British presence, the Ashanti Empire was pushed into obscurity. The signing of a treaty in 1875 guaranteed that there would be no further attacks on cities held by England, and they would keep the road to Kumasi open for traders.
With the twentieth century came the coffee bean, and a massive cash crop export for the people of the region. This began a new sense of nationalism for the people, who began to see British rule as an intrusion. By the mid 1900s, Ghanians were by far the richest and most educated of all the peoples of Africa.
This new sense of nationalism and independence gave rise to a number of totalitarian regimes. The election of Nkrumah in 1960, resulting in him declaring himself president for life, sparked controversy that shook the country to the core. This was the start of an era of economic, political, and social conflict that lasted many years.
The Busia administration eventually replaced Nkrumah, but this did not turn out any better for the people. Busia ousted many foreign businesses and colonists, declaring that the country should be self-supporting and did not desire outside interference. Busia initiated harsh austerity against the people, including his military, who finally had enough of Ghana politics and imposed a coup without bloodshed.
Like so much of the world, the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries were embedded with colonial rule. Prior to this, Ghanians were the core of the Ashanti Empire. This empire was a military power with over 500,000 soldiers, and a tendency to engage in wars of expansion with neighboring communities.
Often these wars were intended to maintain control over territories under their rule, and to forcefully collect taxes from local tribes. They also served to secure travel routes from the coast to the interior of the African continent. As with much of this continent, the Ashanti Empire was involved in the slave trade long before the European colonists came to the region.
The Gold Coast made this area desirable to Europe, as there was a great deal of gold mined from there. Portuguese slave traders were the first Europeans to settle the area, and they established several forts during the thirteenth century. Along with the Portuguese, the Dutch Trading Company also maintained a presence for nearly a century.
The industrial age of Europe and North America sparked a decline in the world slave trade, finally ending in 1860. Now the British Empire had an eye to the Gold Coast in order to extract the rich abundance of raw materials from the region. A series of wars took place between England and the Ashanti Empire, allowing Europe to take several coastal cities.
Aided by Africans in the coastal cities who were quite comfortable with the British presence, the Ashanti Empire was pushed into obscurity. The signing of a treaty in 1875 guaranteed that there would be no further attacks on cities held by England, and they would keep the road to Kumasi open for traders.
With the twentieth century came the coffee bean, and a massive cash crop export for the people of the region. This began a new sense of nationalism for the people, who began to see British rule as an intrusion. By the mid 1900s, Ghanians were by far the richest and most educated of all the peoples of Africa.
This new sense of nationalism and independence gave rise to a number of totalitarian regimes. The election of Nkrumah in 1960, resulting in him declaring himself president for life, sparked controversy that shook the country to the core. This was the start of an era of economic, political, and social conflict that lasted many years.
The Busia administration eventually replaced Nkrumah, but this did not turn out any better for the people. Busia ousted many foreign businesses and colonists, declaring that the country should be self-supporting and did not desire outside interference. Busia initiated harsh austerity against the people, including his military, who finally had enough of Ghana politics and imposed a coup without bloodshed.
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