Ghana

Lore & Background

The earliest kingdoms to emerge in Ghana were Bonoman in the south and the Kingdom of Dagbon in the north, with Bonoman existing in the area during the 11th century. The Asante Empire and other Akan kingdoms in the south emerged over the centuries. Beginning in the 15th century, the Portuguese Empire, followed by other European powers, contested the area for trading rights, until the British ultimately established control of the coast by the 19th century. Following more than a century of colonial resistance, the later borders of the country took shape, encompassing four separate British colonial territories: Gold Coast, Ashanti, the Northern Territories, and British Togoland. These were unified as an independent dominion within the Commonwealth of Nations. On 6 March 1957, Ghana became the first colony in Sub-Saharan Africa to achieve sovereignty. Under President Kwame Nkrumah, it became influential in decolonisation efforts and the Pan-African movement.

In Their Own Story

The humid air in Cape Town hangs heavy as the Black Stars line up for the final whistle. Asamoah Gyan stands on the penalty spot, the weight of a nation on his shoulders, staring down at the calm face of the Uruguayan goalkeeper. The grass is perfect, the lights are blinding, and for a split second, time seems to suspend as the ball leaves his boot, carrying the dreams of an entire continent toward the net.

Reader's Guide

Ghana is a multi-ethnic country with various linguistic and religious groups; while the Akan are the largest ethnic group, they constitute a plurality. Most Ghanaians are Christians (71.3%); almost a fifth are Muslims; a tenth practise traditional faiths or report no religion. Ghana is a unitary constitutional democracy led by a president who is head of state and head of government. For political stability in Africa, it ranked seventh in the 2022 Ibrahim Index of African Governance and fifth in the 2024 Fragile States Index. Ghana is a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement and the African Union, and a member of the United Nations, South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone, Economic Community of West African States, the Group of 24 and the Commonwealth of Nations.

Did You Know?

• Ghana covers an area of 239,567 km2 (92,497 sq mi).
• Ghana became the first colony in Sub-Saharan Africa to achieve sovereignty on 6 March 1957.
• The name Ghana comes from Wagadu, an empire in west Africa from the 3rd to 12th centuries.
• Ghana is home to five terrestrial ecoregions.
• The highest point in Ghana is Mount Afadja (885 m).