Ghana

Term Paper # 113969

Ethnic Studies > Africa
History > African

Ghana

A look at the country of Ghana before and after its independence from the British.

1,727 words () | 5 sources | APA | 2009 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper looks at the recent history of Ghana and explains the series of events that led up to Ghana's independence in 1957. The paper specifically discusses the effects of colonization in terms of economic and social development and the cultural tensions and tribal divisions in the newly independent Ghana. The paper then looks at the current population and government and concludes that while Ghana is still very much a developing country, Ghana is significantly better off than its West African peers.

From the Paper:

"The country of Ghana was the first dependent African country to achieve independence. Various factors contributed to the effective push for independence. These factors included constitutional reform as a means by which to slowly erode British influence, the stirring of the masses by African political elites, and the general post-WWII concern over colonization and its destructive forces. Growing nationalist sentiment unleashed itself in the riots of 1948, though the consequences of such violence sent a message to the British and promoted a more controlled and systematic push towards independence. Under the leadership of Mr. Kwame Nkrumah, a bright and devoted politician, Ghana found its way towards independence through relatively bloodless means."

Sample of Sources Used:

A Country Study: Ghana. 2005. Federal Research Division Library of Congress. 25 Feb. 2008 http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/ghtoc.html
CIA - The World Factbook - Ghana. 24 Jan. 2008. Central Intelligence Agency. 1 Feb. 2008 <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ghana.html>
F. M. Bourret (1960). Ghana: The Road to Independence 1919-1957 (London: Oxford University Press)
Peter J. Shraeder (2004). African Politics and Society; A Mosaic in Transformation, Second Edition (Canada: Thomson Wadsworth)
Roger S. Gocking (2005). The History of Ghana: (London: Greenwood Press)